APPOINTMENT OF TEACHERS.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16985, 6 November 1920, Page 8

APPOINTMENT OF TEACHERS.

» NEW METHOD APPROVED. RESULT OF THE BALLOT. (SPECIAL TO "THE PKESS.") WELLINGTON, November 5. The Minister of Education recently directed that a ballot should be taken 'of tho certificated primary school teachers of tho Dominion on tho following proposal, which is in general terlns the one contained in tho Education Act Amendment Bill—"That all appointments of teachers shall be made by all Education Boards in accordanco with the position of applicants on the graded list of teachers, unless the applicant is in the opinion of tho Board and the senior inspector unsuitable for tho position ; provided that special provision may be made in cases where a particular type of teacher or a teacher with special qualifications is required." Uncertificated teachers were not asked to vote, since tliev cannot be appointed to a position if a certificated teacher applies, and in any case uncertificated teachers are not graded, so that the new proposal could not possibly apply to them. The ballot was secret and the opening and counting of tho votes was delegated to three scrutineers appointed by the New Zealand Educational Institute. The poll has now been closed and the scrutineers have reported as follows:— For the proposal ... ... 2283 Against the proposal ... 798 Informal ... , ••• ... 19 Total votes recorded ... 3100 Majority for proposal ... 1455 The following is the result of the district voting:— For. Agst.' Inf. Auckland ... 480 29 1 7 Canterburv ... 518 58 0 Hawke's Bay ... 2C2 22 0 Nelson ... 97 6 0 Ota go I ... 242 154 1 Southland ... K>7 25 0 Taranaki ... 121 18 1 Wanganui ... 211 G3 0 Wellington ..., 245 157 4 District undefined 4 — 10 Totals ... 2253 790 19 Ballot papers were sent out to 3892 certificated teachers and 79.6 per cent of these recorded votos, of which 19 were intentionally invalid. Of_ tho valid votes recorded 74 per cent voted in favour of the proposal. The Minister in an interview expressed his gratification at the widespread keen interest which tho teachers of New Zealand evidently felt in this matter, as shown by the response jvliich they made to the Minister's request that every' teacher should record liis vote or her "vote. These teachers, he said, would bo glad now to know that tho legislation forecasted in the ballot paper lind now been passed and would come into effect- on June Ist next, when it was hoped that the new system would contribute largely to the improvement of the conditions of the teaching service.