PARLIAMENT “BAD LEADERSHIP” OF TEACHERS

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29890, 2 August 1962, Page 14

PARLIAMENT “BAD LEADERSHIP” OF TEACHERS

Demand For Increased Marking Fees Attacked (N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, August 1. A Government member, Mr W. A. Sheat (Egmont) alleged in Parliament today that bad leadership had got control of the Post-Primary Teachers’ Association. Any dissatisfaction was due to this “unfortunate” leadership. “It is quite apparent there is an element in the organisation which would put Jock Barnes and Toby Hill in the shade,” said Mr Sheat. He condemned the term “blackleg” used by the association’s executive this week to describe outsiders being recruited to mark School Certificate examination papers.

“I don’t believe the vast majority of postprimary teachers would endorse for one moment the use of the word ‘blackleg,’ ” said Mr Sheat. “Is there any member of the House prepared to support this stuff?” Mr Sheat asked. "This is the level to which a so-called reputable organisation has sunk in an attempt to make political capital against the Minister of Education.”

Mr Sheat said the association denied using the word “strike." Yet its own journal said strike action was “no longer considered unprofessional or unethical”

Mr Sheat was opposing a motion of Mr J G Edwards • Opposition. Napier) expressing alarm at restlessness and dissatisfaction in the teaching Held The Minister of Education (Mr Tennent) said that in 17 years of office Labour had given School Certificate markers a “miserable sixpence” increase The National Government had increased the fees three times Mr Tennent said he refused to sit round the table and negotiate while the Post-Primary Teachers’ Association held a pistol at his head

He said that he would rather resign than do so Mr Edwards moved “that this House is alarmed with the restlessness and dissatisfaction among teachers, parents’ leagues, school committees and boards due to the Government's education policy and calls on the Government to take the necessary steps to rectify this deteriorating position ” Mr Edwards said that fifth formers were wondering whether they were working to any end Effects of Controversy The controversy over the marking of School Certificate papers lowered the prestige of the Education Department and of the teaching service, said Mr Edwards ‘There have been more adverse editorials in the press on education than ever before." he said The Prime Minister uad been obliged to state that he still had confidence in the Minister, he said Mr Edwards criticised Mr Tennent for a lack of an immediate aim to reduce the size of classes Labour, on becoming the Government would reduce the size of classes immediately Mr T T Murrav <Government. Stratford) said that if there had beer, any difficulties. it was because the Minister knew his job and would not be tooled by anvbody The restlessness was a "carry-over" from the Labour Government Mr Murray moved to amend the motion to attribute the “restlessness and dissatisfaction" to th* previous Gov ernment and to commend the Government for rei tifving the position Right to Negotiate Mr N V Douglas iQpposi tion. Auckland Central) said Mr Tennent tn the Schoo) Certificate pa pei -marking issue, was trying to break down the teachers right to negotiate ‘lf this policy is extenaeo to other fields we know whai we can expect." Mr Douglas saia That is why the Public Service Association is so v.-ry concerned about 'his matter " Mr Douglas quotea a published statement attributed to the Post-P-Imany Teachers Association that the PSA had asked its members not to offer tbeii services as markers Mr Douglas saia ne knew how careful teachers were when thev marked papers to do justice to students He did nor think Mr Tennent was b-ing fan in ms ap preach He had said ne was confident that 'he Govern ment would be able to fulfill some of the recommendations in the report of 'he Educa tion Commission within five months but it had taken him nine months *o settle a minor issue on bursaries fnt university students

The Mimstei o! internal Affairs <Mt Gotz) said the Government was endeavouring to repair many ot the weaknesses left in New Zealand's educational system bv the nrewious Minister of Edu catton

Mr W A tux lOpoosrion Miramar) said he had read a renort tlia’ the Wellington Education Board had adver tired 137 vacancies 36 of them in the lohnsnnvtlle-P-srinia R»«in area -ano had received ?p replies Mr Fox said one ot the reasons oermanen' teachers were difltriilr tn ret was that t«mporar» armointees cot travelline allowances fnr soln» tn schools tn 'State hous>hs areas like JohnsonvillePorirua.

He suggested that the travelling allowance be paid to permanent teachers appointed for schools in these special areas Mr Sheat claimed Mr Edward's motion was “flagrantly at variance with the attitude he adopted in the House two years ago.” At that time Mr Edwards had '•played down’’ criticism of the alleged shortage of teachers Mr H. G. R. Mason (Opposition. Waitakere) said the issue went back a very long time Education in New Zealand was an untidy organisation. It worked because of the goodwill of teachers “If the Minister has done the right thing, he must have

done it the wrong way to have discord at every turn.” Mr Mason said

The Leader of the Opposition (Mr Nash’ said that the Post-Primary Teachers' Association had gone to the Government Services Tribunal for a decision on its claim for higher fee: for marking, but the Education Departmen' claimed the tribunal bad no lurrtoiction in the case "If that is so. then the Post - Primary Teachers' Association is not a represen'ative organisation and has nj right to represent the -ase of its members These are most extraord nary cir■■iims’ances" said Mr Nash Whrn Mr Tennent rose on a point d! order to ask whether Mr Nash was in trde’ m discussing an issue which he claimed was sub judice the Speaker (Mr Algie) said he did not mink Mr Fas had transgressed Mr Nash said Mt Tennent was trying to ’hwart the iurisdicticn of 'he ’ribunal ‘The association said it was orep r *d to let 'he whole •hmg go to arbitration but Mi Tennent said 'There w:ll be r ■ change this vear We

shall get enough to mark the papers. Next year I'll appoint someone myself to determine any change in the pay’,” said Mr Nash “ ‘lf you want to talk terms, we shall offer them to individual members,’ he told the -ssociation.” Minister’s Defence Mr Tennent denied that he had promised immediate reduction in the size of classes. “This is political talk by the would-be Minister of Education if Labour ever gets back.” The former Minister of Education (Mr Skoglund) had obviously been ignorant of the position when, in June. 1960. he had said that the size o' classes would be reduced He would have required another 360 teachers end on coming into office, Mr Tem.ent said, he found the service was short of 900 teachers. “I told him that it was a great pity he was considering it because there were not enough teachers to carry it out." said Mr Tennent. “I was threatened by a strike "I was told bv the oresident of the Hutt Valley PPI A. that if their requests were not met within a term, there would be a strike “They said that their over'ime rates were the last straw “In 17 years the Labour Government increased marking fees by sixpence We have| increased them on three occasions And this ‘chamnion 'f oppressed people’ raises it by a miserable sixpence." said Mr Tennent “We offe'-ed a 25 per cent increase They asked for 86 per cent increase—announced it at their confer, ence ar.d thev passed a reso. lution instructing their members not to mark papers "I have never given an unaualified refusal to negotiate I said that if they withdrew their threat. I would sit down round the table right aw; v “But I would not sit down with guns at my head. But I have got the markers I want now Welfare Of Students “1 am concerned with the welfare of the 24.000 young boys and girls who will be taking School Certificate this vear” said Mr Tennent. " T t might be two or three months be’ore the Government Service Tribunal gave a decision, and where would my 24.000 boys and girls be •.hen’” Mr Tennent asked He assured the House that he had a “most able" panel of markers for 'he examinations Mr R D Muldoon (Governm’rt, Tamaki) said the Opposition was pinning its case on a militant union, posing a professional organisation, which did not have *he support ot its own members After getting an increase from 4s to 5s last year for marking school Certificate capers it now wanted 7s 6d ‘Whai kind of a case ts that to put before the Government with the threat of strike avion hanging over it’" Mr Muldoon asked The debate ended without the amendment or the motion being put. .