GRADING OF TEACHERS.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16550, 16 June 1919, Page 6

GRADING OF TEACHERS.

INTERESTING AUCKLAND CASE.

(PBESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) AUCKLAND. Jane 14. A matter of much interest to teach* ers enmo boforo Mr Justice Striuger at the Supreme Court to-day, whon Henry Cecil Jaffrcy, teacher, of Mangore, sp. plied for a writ of mandamus against ten inspectors of tho Auckland Educa. tion district, and tiie Director of Education, compelling them to amend the 15)14 Dominion graded list of teachers bv awarding him certain marks in accordance with the decision of the Grading Appeal Board for the Auckland wstrict. It was explained that plaintiff was ono of forty-nino teachers who had a common griovance in that tho graded list had not boon amended after their appeals had been sustained by tho Hoard. The interest taken by teachers in tha case was shown by the fact that over thirty were present in Court. t Mr Blomfield stated that ton inspectors were cited in their capacity as grading officers under tho Dominion grading schcme. In the 1918 list plaiiitilf and a number of other Auckland teachers were deprived of two inni'Ks each upon an allegation that in certain divisions of their classification, Auckland teachers in grades 8, 4, and r>. were graded too high in comparison with teachers in otTier education districts. Forty-nine teachers appealed against this decision to the District' Grading Appeal Board. Tho appeals, were heard on September 7th Inst. The Board allowed nil the appeals, and passed a resolution urging the Department to rogrado all tho teachers who had been reduced by two marks. Subsequently, plaintiff was informed in a letter from Mr Caughloy, that his appeal had been allowed, but that "no altnration in grading had theroby resulted." John Caughley, Assistant-Director of Education, called as a witness, stated that the "Gazette" list did not contain tho results of appeals against, and ~ alterations to, the grading list which took place all through tho year, and wore not gazetted. The real record was in n set of personal cards held at "Wellington, ana in duplicate at tho offices of tho various Education Boards. Theso contains! all particulars of each teacher, and alone were used when appointments were mado. The cards showed the reasons for all chances in marks. Tho marking shown in tho "Gnzette". would have no effect for practical purposes. "Witness exnJJeitlv denied that tho list had been published early for anv ulterior purpose, and stated that the intention of trotting it out. in March or April had been formed in the previous vear. His Honour: That is n definite assurance. I think it ought to be accoptcd. Mr Caughley went on to say that he merely sent the decisions of tho Appeal Boards to the grading officers concerned, and this was taken ns a formal direction to give effect to the do-isions. In this case it was plain that if the teachers were retrraded, tho teachers who had not appealed against the loss of two marks would be penalised. He, therefore, informed the cradintr officers thfit it would be in order if they reported that effort could not he eiven to the recommendations of the Bonrd. Its resolution was bevond its powers.

Hi<s Honour remarked that as the prints list had been shown not to be in art ml uco for don.irtmertfal purposes. Iho plaintiff could not suffer to any extent on aervnmt of whnt npp»arH in it. it seemrvl cl«wir t'vit section 10 of th« had rot be"n eorried out. He would reserve his decision.

LIGHT RAILWAYS

PURCHASE BY DOMINION

PROPOSED,

(press association telegram.)

WELLINGTON, Juno 15. Tho official correspondent with tho New Zealand Peace Delegation cnbles as follows under date London, Juno 13th: —■ In response to several requests from New Zealand, Mr Massoy ha s arranged that Major Vickerman, of the New Zealand Public Works Department., who has served in France, should report on tho possibility of purchasing some of tho light railways which have been used during tho war for military purposes Franco, but aro not now roquirod locally.