NORTH CANTERBURY EDUCATION INSTITUTE.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 9984, 14 March 1898, Page 2

NORTH CANTERBURY EDUCATION INSTITUTE.

The North Canterbury branch of the Education Institute continued its sitting at the Normal School on Saturday morning. The election of officers was proceeded with and the following elected—President, Mr J. G. L. Scott; Vice-President (in place of Miss Kitchingman, retired), Mrs Wilkinson ; Hon. Secretary, Mr C. Hall (reelected) ; Hon. Treasurer, Mr F. J. Rowley (re-elected); Auditor, Mr T. Hughes ; Committee, Mr T. S. Foster (26), Mr W. D. Bean (24), Miss Dymes (23), Mr J. B. Mayne (22), Mr L. Watson (19), Mr McCullogh (18). It was decided to forward a letter of regret at his resignation and thanks for his services, to the retiring auditor, Mr J. Speight.

Mr F. S. Alley brought up the question of the appointment cf teachers. They were not made by the body that knew most about it, but by the body that knew least about it. The Dunedin Board consulted the inspectors ; the local Board might take a leaf from their book. He instanced the blunders of school committees and committeemen. The average school committee did not and could not know of the qualifications of teachers. The absurdity of their decisions was so well-known that it was hardly worth mentioning. The hardest worked teachers were those in charge of a small schools, of say forty pupils, without assistance. When the number had reached sixty an assistant was appointed, and the work became easier, and the pass percentage higher. Yet the school committee without the slightest reference to the conditions, recommended the appointment of the teacher who had secured the higher percentage of passes. He had no personal grievance. He had received very fair treatment from the Board, but he was not satisfied with the progress some other members had made. He would recommend that the Board should, as at present, ask for applications and send these applications to the inspector. The inspectors would choose three, or four and send them to the Board. The Board would notify these three or four, and they would be entitled to canvass. He moved, therefore, that the North Canterbury Education Institute most respectfully .begs the Board of Education to reconsider the present method of the appointment of teachers, aud to devise a scheme which would the evils of canvassing, and which would work more satisfactorily both in the interests of teachers and of primary education.

Mr S. H. Wilson (Greendale) seconded the motion, ; which was also supported by Miss KITCHINGMAN.

Mr McCollocgh objected to the Board treating one class of their servants in a different: way to others. The town teachera .were treated differently" "to"" the country teachers. It was a humiliating tiling that after years of service a country teacher had to go round and canvass for the appointment. The Committee men were bad enough, but their wives were worse to canvass. _aachers were asked whether they smoked or drank or were saved, and a variety of other questions. It was time the system was altered and canvassing done away. At the same time he would not leave the matter entirely to the inspectors. He had great pleasure in supporting the resolution. Mr R. B. Ryder thought the Board should be approached to make canvassing an absolute disqualification.. He adyocated a system of classification of schools, so that when the vacancies- in the first class had been filled by first class men and others occurred second class men might have a chance. It often happened that a young man worked his way up through the town schools without ever, going to a country school at all. More than that, he shut out the country teachera from all chance of coming in. It would be better if a country teacher could be allowed to have a ohance of working in the town schools, and the town assistants should be sent for a time to the country schools. He .moved as an amendment to Mr Alley's motion that a committee should be set up to draw up some scheme, to be forwarded to the Board of Education.

Mr Watson seconded the amendment. A country teacher had no chanco of getting into a town school, and he 9tood a good chance of being thrown out of a country school. He pointed out all sorts of anomalies in the appointment of teachers by Committees and the gross unfairness with which a choie ewas often made.

Mr Howae i suggested that the executive Committee of the Branch should be constituted the Committee to consider the matter.

Mr Ryder proposed that the Committee should consist of the Committee of the Institute with Mr Alley's, Mr Hughes's, and his own name added.

Mr Alexander (Kaiapoi) had had to suffer, and to suffer smartly, under the present system, but ha thought it could not be altered easily. *Tne Committees were too strong. In Queensland teachers were appointed on their length of service and their merits by the inspectors, who were old teachers. The system here was too much localised, but he did not believe in too much centralisation.

Mr J. G. L. Scott said the Queensland system was not at all a satisfactory or fair one. He had known cases of downright interference with justice because a man had a certain amount of political influence. He thought they should not promulgate any scheme; as long aa the? were merely critics they were safe, but if they formulated a scheme, and the Board adopted it and it did not turn out well, the Board would have a grievance against them. He admitted that the present system was imperfect and un> satisfactory, but a purely bureaucratic system would be just as unsatisfactory. If they did away with the committees they would be under the thumb of the Board, and if they left it to the inspectors they were not entirely safe either. Mr Hughes said young, teachers were handicapped in country districts by their surroundings, it was true, but seniority by length oi service was worse than anything. It would take away all incentive to work and reduce everyone to a dead level. He admitted, however, that merit was often not recognised. Mr Kennedy supported the remarks made by Mr Scott.

Mr Kippexberger, on the other hand, preferred Mr Ryder's scheihe. Mr Thompson said the discussion reminded him of the old saying " Whatever is is wrong." He did not for a moment disagree with those who said that there was injustice under the present system, but he did not think they could better it. Mr Alley, in reply, said he did not think there would be very much injustice done if the appointment of teachers were' left to their inspectors. The South Canterbury and Dunedin Boards took a firm stand in the matter of appointments, and often only sent one application to the school committee. He was quite willing to withdraw his motion in favour of Mr Ryder's. This waa objected toby Mr Scott. Mr Howard (president) discouraged the

idea of formula ling a scheme. He would j be sorry to see appointments left in the j hands of one, two, or three men. If they j recommended suoh a scheme they would be ■

sorry for it. Tho amendment was lost by 10 to 9, and the motion carried.

A jdiscussion took place as to whether the Boarjd should be asked to confer with some of the teachers and'the inspectors on the matter.

Mi- T. S. Foster said the matter could safely be left in the bauds of the Executive Committee.

Mr Alley moved that the executive and the jgentleinen mentioned by Mt* Ryder should be empowered to act as a select committee to watch over the matter and place evidence before the Board.

This was seconded and carried. The meeting then adjourned until 10.30 a.m. next Saturday.