TEACHERS1 BUGBEAR

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 78, 28 September 1918, Page 3

TEACHERS 1 BUGBEAR

In moving, "That this branch of the N.Z.E.I. strongly urge the executive to approach the Minister for Education ■with a view to obtaining the abolition of average attendance as a basis of staffing, salaries, and capitation," at a meeting of the Wellington branch of tho N.Z.E.I. last night, Mr. W. W. Rowntree said that average attendance was one of the bugbears of staffing, for the average, attendance might fluctuate considerably though the roll might remain constant. At present some schools in the cityand suburbs were having a bad time owing to epidemics. In one suburban schoolan average of 95 children out of 520 odd were away. during one week recently. In country schools, which could only be reached over bad roads, the average dropped low in bad weather, and picked up during the summer, but might not until a.teacher had'^een lost. Possibly 75 per cent, of the Dominion's schools were understaffed as a result of the system of paying on average attendance. If the system was abolished the difficulty of the remuneration to IH.b teachers would disappear. Again, if average attendance was dropped out of the question of computing salaries the harmful migrating of teachers from one school to another in search of higher salaries would cease.

The motion was passed' by the meeting, and a fnrther motion was adopted, on the suggestion of Mr. Eowntree, that the resolution should be sent on as a remit to the ' annual meeting of the N.Z.E.I.