GRADING TEACHERS

Evening Post, Volume XCI, Issue 96, 24 April 1916, Page 8

GRADING TEACHERS

THE NEW SCHEME

■FAVOURABLY RECEIVED,

The now scheme for the grading of public school teachers, which the Minister, for Education (Hon. J. A. Hanan) proposes to try and give effect to this year, which scheme was alluded to by him at the annual meeting of the' New Educational Ipstitute on Saturday, and which was subsequently described in detail by the Director (Dr. Anderson) and Assistant-Director of Education (Mr. J. Caughley), seems not to meet with opposition on the part of delegates to the conference of the Teachers' Institute. Enquiries made amongst delegates by a Post reporter today fa-iled to discover any direct antagonism to the scheme. It is unlikely that the scheme will be discussed, at the present meeting of the Institute. " The Dominion grading scheme has been received by Aucklaii^Sj^teachers with mixed feelings," relinked an Auckland delegate. "At present, a very satisfactory grading and promotion I scheme is in operation in our district, and teachers generally feel that while they may ultimately have much to gain by the introduction of the Dominion scheme, they are well off at present. At the same time, they are, on the whole, quite prepared in the national interest to loyally support the Dominion scheme. The opposition to its early introduction was caused by the fear that a common standard of appraisement of the teachers in each Education District would be impossible until inspectors had an opportunity of obtaining experience in different education districts. Mr. Caughley's explanation of the scheme liS3, 1 think, dispelled the doubt of teachers that the interests of all have been carefully conserved." Mr. Wm. Davidson, Dunedin delegate, expressed his views as follow : — "The explanation of the proposed .Dominion, grading scheme, as given by Dr. Anderson and Mr. Caughley, convinced the conference that much thought and careful consideration had been given to the scheme, and that the basic principles upon which the scheme had been formulated provided for the assessment of merit marks on as uniform and just a basis as possible. Tbe general impression seemed to be that criticism at this stage was, if not impossible, at least undesirable. It is only by the wearing of a pair of new boots that suitability and comfort can be proved. In the same way the true merits or defects in the proposed scheme can be ascertained. Criticism will certainly come with the practical working of the scheme, and, if defects are noted, as they no doubt, will be, experience will enable the N.Z.E.1., with the co-operation of the Education Department, to remedy, the defects." A prominent AVellington teacher and delegate said : —"A general view of the provisions of the proposed grading scheme, in my opinion, warrants the profession in the belief that, while not perfect, it. will go a long way to prevent the recurrence of the many anomalies of the past. It has been proved that its basis is eminently practical, and teachers generally will be perfectly safe in giving it an exhaustive trial, making full use of the invitation accorded by its framers to criticise and seek amendment where found necessary."