APPOINTMENT OF TEACHERS.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20024, 4 September 1930, Page 5

APPOINTMENT OF TEACHERS.

«►_ — POWERS OF BOARDS. [THE TEESS SJ>ecl«l * Service.] ;, ; AUCKLAND, September 3. The Auckland Education Board has been disillusioned as to its powers when it conies to choosing between candidates for special appointments. The Board was under the impression that it had a discretionary power to deal with such positions, but a memorandum from the Education Department received at this morning's meeting of. the Board indicated definitely that the Act requires the Board to select the candidate highest on the graded lis>t. This pronouncement has created complications in regard to filling the position of the principal of the Kowhai District High School, which was recently advertised as a special position. The Board is now considering the advisability of advertising the position and in the meantime has decided to seek the advice of its solicitor as to just how much 6ay it has iu the making of special appointments. Tho memorandum from the Department stated that the Board did not appear to have complied in every respect with the regulations governing the appointment of a principal of the Kowhai School. For some reason experience in secondary school work and tho possession of a University degree were omitted from the conditions of appointment, although the late headmaster had both qualifications. As the Act required the Board to select the candidate highest on the graded list it was obvious that all the applicants who were deemed to posseas special qualifications must be graded. So far as the Department was aware, the Board had not sought the grading numbers of all the. qualified applicants. The Act did not give the Board any discretionary power, not even with the concurrence of the senior inspector, to se'e t any but the highest graded applicant. Grading marks had accordingly been supplied in order that it might have an opportunity of, reviewing its proposed action in the matter.