GRADING OF TEACHERS

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 4, 5 July 1928, Page 5

GRADING OF TEACHERS

(By Telegraph.) (Special to "The Evening Post.")

INJUSTICE ALLEGED AUCKLAND RESOLUTION

. AUCKLAND, This Day. Tlic injustice, of transferring teachers of lower grade from schools tliiit 'liave risen iv grade -large-y as a result of their owii efforts and energies was commented upon at yesterday's meeting' of the Auckland'Education*Board; ; The discussion,arose tlirough.Mr. E. C. Banks moving to. rescind a resolution passed on 30th 'November'last to the effect that all teachers named in a list oi! those whose salaries would rise through an increase in grade in schools in 1928 lie.notified that the board'proposed to transfer them and urging the reverting to its former practice of considering each, case o-l its merits. After receiving the senior inspector's recommendations Mr. Banks said that in 35 per cent, of-the cases the increases in the grade of schools in the board's district were due to the offorts of the headmasters. The board immediately penalised the teachers because of a rise and forced 'them to compete . for appointment with teachers in the whole of ■ the Dominion. There was an increasing tendency for old men from the South to come to Auckland and take up higher positions here. The board, said i Air. Banks, should not stultify itself,

and if it continued its present policy it "would be found-tha^ teachers would go slow in order to avoid increases in school.grade and tho possibility of.ro-1 moval. "To my mind this is absolutely the \vorst ami most unjust resolution that lutH been passed -by this board in. the last twenty-five years," said Mr, T. U. Wells. The chairman (Mr. A. Burns) said he did not think the .resolution was carried with any intention of doing anyone an injury. The board merely decided to' throw all positions open for competition, believing it was doing the just thing. There was no idea, of punishing any .individual teacher,- although' admittedly in one case where it had been liesirc'il to give a, teacher'a choice of schools'the mail had- been penalised. There 'would not bo sufficient vacancies to cope with the transfers, and consequently many teachers would remain in their .present schools and draw higher salaries. Tho action of the board was uiade with the best indentions to comply with the grading list and give the highest graded applicant the position. Jr' it had erred it was unintentional, as tho idea was to give a fair field and no favour. A committee was appointed to consider the matter and report to the next meeting on the general aspect of the grading system.