THE CHOICE OF TEACHERS.

Clutha Leader, Volume I, Issue 27, 14 January 1875, Page 6

THE CHOICE OF TEACHERS.

(To the Editor of the Clutha Leader:) § IRj _They say itris a marked- trait' in- colonial character to believe as much ill,, and* as little good;, as possible of people's motives; From: his- strictures on- Mr Connor it would: appear that Mr Hislop > Has- this- trait very highly "developed' and. counts on-, finding it quite as highly developed iheverybody else; From the nature of the case it is impossible for any one to criticise any educational system, except in.so.far as< he has had experience of its working,, and, therefore, though Mr Hislop tries to fix the worst motives possible on Mr '•<2onnor for his late expressions of opinion regarding the elections at Clinf ton%fid Waihola, others think Mr Cbttn^vas quite right not to speak of the 'erjufftnonal system at all till he had experience of iifr'working, hut as soon as he had that, to make his opinions known.- None hut tlmse who see the sYStfin failing cnn point out its failures. Evidently, from his letter to Mr Hislop, Mr Connor took this view, and spoke from this motive. And one would think his position as a clergyman should neciire at least that people believe him md gram hi" motives pure, and' not, liivO-'Mr Hislop, proceed-- at once to treat' bim ao a criminal, and condemn him, and that too unheard and on very suspicious evidence, assuring him all the time ihnt he must have spoken falsely - regarding his motives- j for they are impure, whatever he may say to the contrary. Most decidedly the editor oi the ' Guardian' is right in thinking tbat a zwrtifkate of Graduation from a university, or pood certificates from professors, should Secure their holder a teachers' certificate in at least the subjects they cover. And cei.ninly it is not politic to refuse capnb'e v-migmcn certificates or schools because they may not at the time intend to remain "teachers all their lives; for many who have become leaehers, intending to remain so only for a time, have soon found, by their success, that teaching was their proper work, and have therefore remained at it. And one would think it was- the duty of the Education Board to try to secure good teachers, even though it lie *' over the walls," and to hold forth evprv prospect to then, and open every door for them- Cur Government does not cease paying the passages of emigrants from the home country, because a few who are agisted- out here leave ao-nin. :md muse expense without bringing profit ; hut it contentedly submits to this inconvenience became the rest remain. The Education Board should act on the same principle.-. Let 1 them lay open. ihe door for all. capable young men to come into their service, though some wtv go out again. it seems a decided mistake in Mr HHop, or siiiv oth^r inspector, to interfere with the 'committees in their election of teachers. The fact that he has to do this plainly shows that coin-mittf-es are a mistake.. If they could choose teachers themselves, they have no need to ask Mr Hislop's nssi-t---anee ; and if they consult him, and put in ihe men he recommends, it ; s not. they but he who puts them in.. Why nor." do away with committees altogether and constitute Mr Hislop Elector-General of Teachers for Otago ? That would be better than the present state, of things, for teachers and the public too would th^n know wiih whom they had to do, and not ihink it was the" committees, while i« is r-a'ly Mr Uislop. Indeed, Mr Hislop's report plainly proves- Mr Connor's statement, — that the committees are incompetent - , for it stales that they cannot elect tenchers without consulting- him.- — and thus one man gets the opportunity of filling all the schools of Otago with his favorites 1 ho- whole renorc is only a commentary on the inefficiency of the present- mode < -f appointing; teachers, and vet Mr 11 islop brings ir. forward in deb-nee of ir.. Mr Hislop should mind his own business, and not interfere where he has no light. Many a time has he by his uncalled tor otiiciousnpsa, driven from a district a good teacher, whose place lie supplied with an imbecile, and often er still has he mmle a district grow thorns for a good teacher when it would not naturally have grown them It appears also reasonable and seasonable that some new blood should be iir'ei-ted into the Education Board,, which seems to be ruled by Mr Hislop, ami to say amen to all he says. The result is that Mr Hislop recommends te chers to the committees, and - then in thy Kducation Board sits as judge between his own recommendations and those- of others who are perhaps more fit ro recommend than he, and then, of. course,, his recommendations always outweigh- those of other people. But let men, such' as our professors, who have been thoroughly educated tlnm-s-tiv^s, and know- something about tho way to educate; and what should be found in a teacher — let such men be iij-tt.iied as members of the Education I'oaid, and these- having, opinions oft thur own, would; not' submit" to be: it <-. mi nee red over by Mr .-Hislop or any; ou»r man, however, great a= genius he : might be; and we' should get as-j t^arla good men, and not Mr Hislop's, :*_rr,.~— i am,,£c. r Defensor; Vbr_}--