THE APPOINTMENT OF TEACHERS.

Press, Volume L, Issue 8481, 12 May 1893, Page 2

THE APPOINTMENT OF TEACHERS.

At the North Canterbury Education Board's meeting yesterday, Mr Merkdith moved, pursuant to notice—"That there* gulation at present genorally enforced by vie Appointments Committee whereby tbe applications of teoohere for vacancies under the Board are confined to teachers actually employed and in tHe~ Board's service, bore* laxed, so as to render eligible teachers who are now engaged teaching in other educational districts, in consequence of not being able to obtain employment under the Board, although formerly under the Board and trained in the Board's service." When applications came in for vacancies under, the Board, almost invariably it won .the rule to strike out those belonging to other districts without considering tbeir Applications or their merits. To a certain extent it was a wise course for the Com* mittee to endeavour to confine vacancies under the Board to teachers trained by the Board in North Canterbury who were entitled to promotion and duly qualified. But it was a great hardship to rigidly enforce this regulation, as it worked moat prejudicially againet young teachers under the Board. At the request of the gentleman who was at present Chairman, a return was made showing the number of teachers in North Canterbury who were iv want of employment, and who had passed their necessary course of training. There was no, difficulty in teachers trained under that Board getting positions in the North Island and other parts of the colony, but there was the embargo upon them that if they took up situations elsewhere they could riot, expect again to obtain positions under the North Canterbury Board. If this embargo were removed the number of teachers unemployed would bo lessened, and no advantage would be gained by both the district and the schools. '•

Mr Peryman seconded the motion pra forma, and observed that instances ii*d occurred where teachers from outside the district had been appointed to positions within it.

Mr ANBON concurred with what Mr Pery man had eaid.

The Hon. W. Montoomkiiv said that' every application that came up woe fully examined; the general character of the., applicant, his zeal and qualification* andcapability to teach. In equity and good ««- ecience, the Committee only ««nt those, namea forward of such candidate* Bβ they.' could thoroughly vouch for as fit for the positions for which they applied. Those who were trained in thin disU-icb ahoulu have the preference of those from elsewhere,, as the former would be well known. Hβ" objected to the appointment of those whohad left the district, as the presumptive evidence was that they left because they were not giving satisfaction, and during their absence also they might woaken in the qualification* for properly conducting f school without the Committee becoming aware of the fact. The matter was of great Importance to them as ft Board devoted to the education of the children to see that' teachers were so trained and in such numbers as to properly equip the school. IW"; should vote against the resolution. • Mr Arson said he could not support the resolution. If it were carried the outcome would be an inundation from all parts of tbe colony of teachers, some of whom perhap* would not be of a desirable clasj. A? they had ft sufficient number of teachers in North Canterbury he conld not see the utility of the resolution, and the Board would make a great mistake to pass it. Of coureo there, were exceptional times when it would be advisable to appoint outsiders. ; Mr Satinueus said he could uot, support the resolution because he did not like ite wording. Besides, there was no regulation . which prevented the appointment of out- .„ eiders. The Board generatly adopted-tftt practice of appointing their own trained teachers, but not always, and the system wae only ineisted upon by Mr Meredith • when he joinedlthe Board. (Laughter.) Hβ (Mr Saunders} considered that the question should be left an open one, besides whloh, they should not adopt a resolution which spoke of a regulation which did not exist. Mr Joyce agreed with the last remark made by Mr Saunders. • . . • Mr Mebedith having teplitfd, tlie motion was put atd lost, the mover only voting for it.