GRADING OF TEACHERS

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27445, 3 September 1954, Page 13

GRADING OF TEACHERS

Director Of Education Urges Change “NOTHING TO BE GAINED BY TINKERING” (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, September 2. The Director of Education (Mr C. E. Beeby) believes that the present teachers’ grading system exercises a bad influence on New Zealand primary schools, although it had admittedy served' a useful purpose and even now it is not completely devoid of virtues. “One of the reasons why teachers still cling to it is that, the profession has lingering memories of the nepotism and local favouritism which numerical grading finally and completely abolished,” said Mr Beeby in his annual report presented to the House of Representatives today. “They appreciate, too, the fa<!t that the service is now a national one in which a teacher from Bluff has equal chances for an Auckland position with a local resident. Though individuals complain of the marks they receive, there is a general feeling that the marking is fair.’’

The professed purpose of the graded list was to put teachers in the strict order of their efficiency, said Mr Beeby. The arguments against the existing grading system, however, were overwhelming. It was, he contended, unprofessional, did not put teachers in the order of their efficiency, gave an undue advantage to mere seniority, set the Teachers’ Grading Appeal' Board an impossible task, spoilt the relationship between inspectors and teafehers, weakened the position of the head teacher, and under pressure from teachers it had been necessary to make constant amendments which by and large had only complicated the issue. “I am convinced that there is nothing to be gained by tinkering further with the present scheme,” said Mr Beeby. “With the help of my colleagues in the department I have sincerely tried for 14 years to make it work satisfactorily. T? can ofily report that we have failed, and strongly urge that the existing one be replaced by something, that will serve better the interests of the teachers and of the children they teach.”