THE TEACHING PROFESSION.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 12015, 17 October 1904, Page 5

THE TEACHING PROFESSION.

PROMOTION AND CLASSIFICATION. PROPOSED SCHEME DISCUSSED. ; A general meeting of the-North Canterbury Dirtrict Branch of the New Zea* land Educational Institute" was-held on Saturday, when a scheme for the promotion and classification of teachers, drawn trp by the Management- Committee, was «tb mhted. Mr L. Wafason prided', iiid there was a large attendance. Reports wer? made regarding the Superannuation Bill and the-Bill'dealing with increases in the salaries of teachers receiving under £150 per annum. It was generally considered that the Bill dealing with salaries only touched the fringe of the subject, and that- matters Mould not be satisfactory until-%-a "superannuation scheme was put in force. It was* urged that strong efforts should be made to ensure the parsag? of such a, scheme next resskm. * The committee submitted a. scheme, the objects of which were:—(l) Tv> provide a carefully graduated and equitable sctiem J of promotion for teachers. in the North Canterbury Education District; (2) to reward nnd encourage merit and efficient service, whilst inflicting an little, hardship as possible; (3) to avoid a purely mechanical basis of promotion while offering a fair and reasonable prospect to every teacher of improving his position in his profession; (4) to avoid encroaching on tlie prvrogatives of the Board and .its expert, officers. Under the propose! schrin?, promotion i-' to be based on—(1) professional fkill and training; (2) length andquality of service; and" (3) literary attainment. .All teachers a.re to be divided into six grades, and all promotions aro- to be made from one; grade to the next • higher, providrd the minimum qualification is forthcoming. Promotions frmn grade to grada are in b_> made on the bfisis of the Departmental scale of starT* and jalaries, and probation in the various grades is to be the only avenue to promotion, as in such a manner alone can competency be prove*!. The commit recommended:—That the names of ;.il qualified applicants for vacant appointments, who have shown efficient service in their grade, shall b? forwarded by the Board to the School Committee for the selection of a suitable teacher. . That tlvs Board shall recognise the fact that r,\] female teachers have received special training in infant work, and that female teachers in schools of 200 and upwards, pofl *e.'»ing tho necessary qualifications, nhall l>e deemed eligible for" all appointment* aa infant teachers. That the salaries paid to junior male assistants are Ic.'ally inadequate. Tha* Mine immediate and radical change is urgently needed in the method of granting teachers' certificates from rank to rank. The minimum qualiScat ion set out in tIS? scheme, is designed to meet existing anomalies in the grading of teachers' certificates. Teachers nt. present in the Board's .service who do not possess the minimum qualification requirJi by the scheme, are- not only to retain the appointments at present held by them. but will continue to hold them should their school pass into a. higher grade, and a teacher is not to lose status by reason of the reduced attendance, though the school, fall into a> lower grade. Teachers in receipt of salaries under £5100 per annum shall be eligible for fresh appointments after-one year's efficient service; in other ca*e?, two yeans' efficient service shall be required. As tho introduction.of. this or any other scheme miiK, entail hardship on individuals, it will therefore be imperative to rccoenw* temporarily established 1 * claims. Other things being equal, teachers in schools with a. falling attendance,, and likewise those witlr an efficient record who have notreceived promotion for a number of years, shall receive special consideration when appointments are made. Mr T. Hugh**' briefly explained the scheme, and said the committee had attempted to provide a scheme which would benefit'the whole profession, and bespoke for it a fair consideration, as he thought that the more it'was looked. into, the more there would be seen in it. Tie moved —"That the report, as printed, be received." , Mr W. Brock also explained the working of the fcheme. Mr R. Ryder, a* an amendment, moved —"That the report. be referred back to tho ;committeo for reconstruction." He referred to a number of anomalies in the scheme, such as that a mistress capable of taking" charge of a school with an average attendance of 390 should be placed- on the same footinct, for the purposes of promor tion, as a first a«»i*tant. The chairman .pointed out that Mr Ryder was a member of the Management Committee, and thtf report had been agreed to without dissent. Mr Ryder's criticisms wouKl have been' more appropriately given before the report was adopted by the committee. •Mr Ryder said he had mentioned at the meeting of the'committee that he did not think the scheme" was a satisfactory, one. The committee's fchomo lent itself to the wire-pulling, canvassing and underhand work of tho piwent. .Mr S. McCullough seconded the amendment. _ _■■'•'■ ._ ■ '■•,.'. - After discussion, the amendment was I negatived and the report was".received." j The details were then, discussed. ~•".'• Mr.Bvder moved that instead, of ths six 'grades proposed by the committee thore *hould be eleien.- v* Mr Hughes, said the committee, had considered a scheme with a larger number of gradef, but bad decided on six grades as giving opportunity for more rapid promotion. Mr J. -B.'Maynn said if the crrades were iccrea.*ed, the utility, of the scheme.would be reduced. ...... Mr Baldwin considered that - teachers wmild be better if they were classified as Civil servants'. Mr ft. "U."Ju«t thought.the matter wa-.r being trifled with, and unless it was mor.; serioiv-ly considered, they should inform the Board that teachers were unable to any seherre of promotion. The amendment, was. lost. Mr MenzifN moved an amendment to the effect Hint the *chool*. and not the teachers, should be divided into six gradfs. Mr Ryder .seconded th« amendnient. which, was'negatived.'and the committees recommendation on the point was agre»:l to. ■■•,,-■» Tlie objects, principles, and outlino i.f the scheme -were 'ultimately agreed to without, alteration. The meeting then adjourned till 11 a.m. next Saturday. THE WORKING OF THE SCHEME. The Committee's report included the two following examples of the possible car.ers of the teachers under the schemerropesed:—• "1. Suppor? that- a young teacher leaves the Normal School with a. C 5. certificate, and is appointed to a grade 6 school at £125 p?r annum. At the end-of two years' efficient ferric? he ehon'.d be advanced to C? rank, and. .be- eligible [°* • x crade 5 vacancy. Successful in obtaining an appointment in'that erade. he now has c. probable rale ry of £180 a year._ efficient service. here should raise h>s status jind render i* probable that in three or four years he will re a bead teacher in r. cradc 4 rchcol, with a salary of, say, £220. After an interval of, say, four yeara. and when he is a. teacher of twelve yearn* standing, cur teacher is appointed K?ad of a grade 3 fchool. with a salary r-f a year. He next steps into a- grado 2. school*, with a probable ralary of £310, nnd finally obtains the. of 'a crade 1 school. "2. Suppose, on the other-bandy, that t bo same "teacher, on leaving, the Normal i School with. a. certificate; had received a I position-of A.M.-2 in a grade 2 rchool. Two years' tcrvke here should roise his . professorial status to rank 4, and entitle him to

appointment in grade 5, or as A.M. 2 in the largest etze of school, or A.M. 1 in a grade 3 school, with a salary of £135 to £190. Pour yean , farther service ought to give him rank to make him for A.M. 1 in grade 2 school, with £220 a year. Within another few years he should receive promotion to .A.M. 1 in grade 1 school;at £245. His n«sxt appointnrentf would' be headmaster in. a grade 2 school, and within a reasonable time .the headmafftership of grade 1."