SCHOOL GRADING

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 101, 26 October 1934, Page 11

SCHOOL GRADING

A SERIOUS POSITION

(To the Editor.)

,Sh-,— The statement of the Prime Minister concerning tho position in regard to tho down-grading of schools reported in your issue of Tuesday, October 23, seems to reveal a disregard of the facts of tho situation that calls for somo explanation. In tho first place the right honourable- gentleman indicated that tho position was not at all unusual, and required no special attention. Yet he proceeded to explain that tho Depptmont was closely watching tho position. If there is no evidence of any unusual or untoward development, what prompts the careful watching of the position? He also mentions that as from February 1 next all schools will bo staffed in accordance with tho regulations that havn been in operation for years past. This rather begs tho issue. There- is the implied suggestion here that there has been no change which could affect any aspect of the staffing position. This conclusion is contrary to fact inasmuch as somo 15,000 to IS,OOO children have been excluded from tlio schools. In view of tho fact that school grades are based on attendance, and that staffing and salaries are fixed according to grades, how can either tho grading or staffing remain the same as in past years sineo when the attendance has been reduced approximately 10 per cent, by legislative action. Further than this tho Prime Minister, when referring to ovcrscale provision, did not acknowledge- the repeal of clause 16 of Staffing Kegulations Act, 1929, ifvhich, in tho past, protected the position _of the teacher against salary reduction for a period up to five years, or until such time as tho Education Board could transfer tho teacher concerned to another position that would conform to his- grade. This clauso was recently revoked, thus removing the protection against clause 32 which states: "As soon as under the provision of tho Act and of theso regulations a reduction in the staff of a school is necessary it shall be the duty of the board to give notice of dismissal to every teacher whom it is necessary to discharge in order to carry out such reduction."

The statement of tlio Prime Minister then e'ertainly does not possess that accuracy which we should be entitled to expect in a statement emanating from so responsible a source. The seriousness of tlio position complacently described as normal by Mr. Forbes is indicated by the Wellington position, where 33 schools aro to fall in grade in 1934 as compared with 16 in 1930, wbilo so few as 4 aro to rise in 1934 as compared with 21 which were raised in 1930. As approximately one-tenth of teachers arc employed in the- Wellington education district, this is but some indication of the general position throughout the- Dominion. Clearly then tho position, is far-from normal. Allowing that there are still some schools rising in grade there are fewer rising than hitherto, while the number falling has greatly increased. The position is that there is a general sharp decline in grades of schools, loading to a measure of chaos and confusion that will provent our education system from meeting tho demands of its inherent purpose if some urgent action is not taken to arrest tho drift. Tho fact that sonio of tho lower-graded schools are rising is no evidence of the non-existence of the trouble of which all concerned complain. Indeed tho very increase in the number of lower-graded schools at the expense of a fall in those higher-graded ones confirms tho general conclusion respecting the need for urgent adjustment^ Is it possible to imagine that education boards would bo so perturbed without reason? Or would they be likely to call a conference to consider a problem which did not exist? School committees and their associations as well as teachers' organisations are all similarly concerned. If tho Prime Minister is right, and everything is very much as usual, all theso people must bo the victims of a very peculiar hallucination. In view of tho attitude of the Government in this matter will it institute an independent inquiry at which senior inspectors and other responsible people associated with the everyday working of tho schools will be free to express thoir opinions based upon recent experience? Such inquiry would confirm the gravest fears concerning the continual effective functioning of our primary education system upon which our children are dependent for their greatest assets in life, that of the fullest and soundest development of their talents, capacities, character. If we allow depreciation o(: these qualities of the generation of our future citizenship the position of New Zealand of tho future will be one of humiliation in the matter of relative cultural and intellectual standards which determine our futuro standard of conduct, attainment, and national prestige. In tho interest of the citizenship of the futuro, which. for the moment, of necessity, remains inarticulate, there is need for positive and urgent action. Pending complete inquiry and examination of tho position which would lead to much-hooded reorganisation the position would well .be met by reducing tho numbers which qualify for existing grades by one-twelfth or by fixing grades on average roll number instead of on average attendance as at presont. This action would be sensible and just in that it would bring the position of the primary schools in this respect into conformity with tho secondary, technical, and intermediate schools. —I am, etc.,

ii. j. McDonald.