School Certificate Marking

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29878, 19 July 1962, Page 12

School Certificate Marking

The insistence of the Postprimary Teachers’ Association on its right to negotiate in trade-union fashion on the rates to be paid for marking school certificate examination papers seems likely to have results unwelcome to its members. The Minister of Education (Mr Tennent), who refused to negotiate under a virtual strike ultimatum, will have little difficulty in recruiting university graduates among the community in general to mark the papers satisfactorily this year; and many of those who accept the work will want to do so again. Thus, those teachers who like to make a little extra money marking papers may not get the chance next year Then the association will be unable to hold itself out as the accredited agent of the markers Finally, tn spite of the appeal of the president (Mr A G. Baigent) some teachers who do not agree with the association s policy will probably mark papers this year Any such split would not make for harmony in the profession. Quite apart from payment, teachers benefit from marking papers by getting an insight into the thinking in other schools Even at this late stage the association in the interests of its members

should try to reach n better understanding with the Minister. Candidates and their parents need not fear that school certificate papers will be marked with any less care and efficiency this year. The procedures that are necessary in any case to correlate the assessment of marks in such a huge examination with thousands of candidates and hundreds of markers should provide adequate safeguards. These safeguards include model answers. “ trial runs ” by markers, the co-ordination of marks, and methods of pealing. Where parents do have some reason for concern is in the effect on morale in the teaching service While this unhappy dispute persists members of the association must find it difficult to maintain enthusiasm in their work. If the rates of payment are too low they should be raised The association, however, has not yet demonstrated by comparisons with former rates or the payment for the university entrance examination that the rates for school certificate are too low It is not enough to say that 13s 4d an hour is too little for teachers when other persons as well qualified are prepared to accept it.