STATE SCHOOLS

Evening Post, Volume 91, Issue 91, 15 October 1923, Page 6

STATE SCHOOLS

GRADING OF TEACHERS

MINISTER OF EDUCATION'S VIEWS. During the recent conference of senior inspectors of schools, the Minister of Education, the Hon. C. J. Parr, made a general statement in regard to the success of the system of grading teachers. Prior to leaving for the South on Saturday, the Minister gave some further particulars as to the intentions of the De- | partment.

Since the conference," remarked the Minister, "I have had several meetings with the Director of Education and the Chief lilspectof of Schools and am hoy in a position to confirm the following decisions which I. have arrived at:— (1) For the purpose of comparing, in ' the different educational districts typical cases of grading, and, with the further purpose of judging and reporting upon the quality of instruction given m the various districts, the chief inspector shall, for the ensuing twelve months, spend at least one half of his working time in the field. (2) Senior inspectors will temporarily exchange districts, as from Ist March next year for a period of three months. (3) The chief inspector will arrange, ih two or three suitable cases, for an exchange of territory between the inspectors of adjacent districts; he will report what districts he suggests for this purpose." "It was remarkable," said Mr. Parr, "to find the unanimity of opinion that existed with regard to the efficacy of the present system. It has been found to be infinitely superior to the old system, in forca until a couple of years ago, under which appointments were made by the education boards and the commitees, according to the opinion or predilection of either. Nowadays. teachers are graded by the inspectors' who examine and know their work and promotion goes with the grade. ' The teaching profession is unanimous in support of the new system, and expressed its support through the Teachers' Institute. The opposition of the boards has almost vanished. Practically all of them are unanimous that the grading is being well done. The one difficulty is" to secure a uniform standard of "valuation, as between nine different sets of inspectors in nine education board districts. UNIFORMITY AIMED AT. "To meet this difficulty it has been decided to take certain steps; with a view .to securing greater uniformity of appraisement, so as to keep the* inspectors working on the same basis as nearly as possible. I admit, of course, that it is humanly impossible to secure absolute uniformity under any "system of classification, where a number of men have to value or estimate the technical worth and ability of others. Much can be done, however, towards the end desired. Excellent results have already attended the system, during the three years it has been in force." The arrangement by which the chief inspector would be in the field for half of his time would have an additional advantage, said Mr. Parr, in that he would be in a position to report direct to the Minister on his judgment of the quality of instruction being imparted m typical schools of different districts. Unfortunately, while the appointment of the Assistant Director of Education was deferred during the period of the economy programme for nearly a year, Mr. Strong's services were required larsrely at headquarters. However, since Dr. Marsdeh had been appointed Assistant Director, he would now be able to take the field. THE MINISTER'S DESIRE. Naturally the senior inspectors, who would interchange temporarily, might not have an opportunity to see all the teachers, but they would have the advantage; said Mr. Parr, of beintr able to compare the, grading of typical headmasters and assistants in each district. They could compare say the best men in grade V of the assistants in the districts to which they would be exchanged. They could decide whether either had been marking too high or too f°w; this would help towards attaining uniformity^ 'Where inspectors exchanged iii adjacent districts, one could get an idea of what standards the other adopted in a neighbouring territory. "I am very anxious," said the Minister, in conclusion, "to make the teaching service as happy and contented as possible under the grading system. I want to see them get what 'they consider a fair deal with regard to promotion. Largely, this has already beeii accomplished, but there is this one admitted weakness, the want of uniformity of appraisement. We want the best curative measure we can secure, and I have great hbpes that the measures I have outlined will bring it about."