EDUCATION REFORM

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 80, 5 April 1938, Page 12

EDUCATION REFORM

PROPOSED BILL

COMMITTEE HEARS EVIDENCE

SECONDARY TEACHERS

Evidence on behalf of the New Zealand 'Secondary Schools Assistants' Association- on the Education Amendment Bill was submitted to the Education Committee of the House of Representatives, which commenced its sittings in Parliament Buildings today.

The Committee consists of the Rev. C. L. Carr (Labour, Timaru) chairman, the Minister of Education (the Hon. P. Fraser), Messrs. T. H. McCombs (Labour, LytteltonV H. E. Herring' (Labour, Mid-Canterbury), C. R. Petrie (Labour, Hauraki), the Rev. A. H. Nordmeyer (Labour, Oamaru), Messrs. H. Atmore (Independent, Nelson), H. G. Dickie (National, Patea), and S. G. Smith (National, New Plymouth). Mi\ M. S. Pasby is secretary to the Committee. \ ' - ' ;■

The Committee decided that its proceedings should be, open to the Press, and the chairman remarked that there was limited accommodation for members of the public who desired to hear the evidence., ,

QUESTIONNAIRE SUBMITTE^,

"On some of the issues raised by the Bill, members have found it difficult to express their real opinion, for they expect that other measures in a larger or subsequent Bill will so, modify the operation of this Bill as to render their present expressions somewhat irrelevant," stated Mr. A. H. Thorn (secretary of the association). "This is particularly so in regard to appointments, promotion, and grading. The executive has, however, taken the view that this Bill must be examined of itself and at its face value, and that no good purpose^ will be served by assuming ;the imminence of otyier measures. "In order to give every member an opportunity of expressing views on matters in the Bill not recently the subject of discussion at conferences, a questionnaire 'was cirpulated, among all members. The results of that questionnaire have enabled the executive to express with considerable exactitude the consensus of opinion, on the points raised, of the members of our association."

The association approved of the reduction in the number of governing bodies, combined with the linking up of the main types of school. Approval was also given to the proposed inclusion of teachers on the education boards. "This is a reform 'which is long overdue and one which will tend to improve the status of the teacher and the understanding of the boards,'.' said Mr. Thorn. "The election of the boards is in some quarters held to be unduly, complicated, and it is,suggested that a Parliamentary franchise might be simpler. Annual elections of boards we feel is unwise. A term of two years of office, at the least,, is necessary; to ..enable members, to become qualified in their office,,while the bodies concerned with the selection of representatives should not be glutted with elections. '

MEMBERS "TOO OLD."

•"The association wouldJike to place on record its appreciation of the work and the assistance given by members of some boards of governors throughout tne country. At the x same time, it must be recognised,that there are frequently cases where membership of a board is regarded as a reward accorded to worthy citizens. too old to take' an active, part in-civic affairs. The result is that too,often the board, as a whole, is out of contact with the school and the school staff it governs. This seems to US' to be especially the case where one board controls- several schools. Opinion in the, association is divided, but the majority of the members approve of the functions of the proposed school councils, except that they would like a clearer definition of the rights of the council in connection with the making of teaching appointments. Further, a considerable •number'feel that the teaching staff should have representation on the school council, and opinion is evenly divided as to whether it should be the principal of the school, either as secretary or as an ordinary member, or an assistant." . The association approved of the Council of Education, and of the /appointment of local education officers within the board. "It cannot be denied that much rivalry, if not actual suspicion and distrust, exists between the primary, secondary, and technical branches of the education service today which this union of control should do much to eliminate. But the whole scheme will be wrecked if the education officer is not one who can see the whole problem clearly and without bias," said Mr. Thorn. '"If our mem-bers-thought that these positions were to be filled by the 'diehards' of the various inspectorial bodies now in existence, they would be most heartily opposed to the creation of this office. The association also desired further information in the part the education officer was to play in grading and in appointments. The right of appeal against non-ap-pointment _ was . endorsed by • the association.' , ;

A CHAOTIC STATE.

"A chaotic state has arisen in regard to appointments and promotions in secondary schools," said Mr. Thorn. "Secondary teachers are graded into four groups, A, B, >C, and D. This grading is determined upon academic and teaching standards and service. Such teachers are paid, however, according to the grade of the. position they hold, and thus the following state has come about:-(a) Of 13^ men graded A, 50' have A grade positions,i 62 have B grade positions, 7 have C grade positions, a.yd 18 are in 'combined schools.' (b) Of 119 men graded B, one has an A grade position, 29 have B grade positions, 62 have C grade positions, a further 17 have D grade positions, but can rise to the maximum C grade salary, and 10 are in 'combined schools.' (c) Of 102 graded C, five have B grade positions, 32 have C grade positions, 50 D grade positions, and 15 are in 'combined schools.' To relieve the situation in the lower grades, the D grade bar was abolished in February, 1936, as a result of which all assistants Who have C grading or higher can rise to the maximum of C grade salary. This is a recognition of an inherent weakness in the system, (d) There are 52 men graded D who, on account of the above provision, can ultimately reach the top of C grade salary i£ th,eir grading warrants it. Although this might conceivably be advantageous in certain cases, it is decidedly tinfair to the majority of the applicants. The result is that many assistants find themselves in* schools where there is little or no prospect of promotion' to the grade to which their qualifications entitle them.

"Under the system of appointments outlined in the Bill, the present position will undoubtedly be improved, but it appears as though appointments may take place only within the individual board districts. This was mentioned by Dr. Boyd as a disadvantage of the Scottish system. If the principle were applied to .the new

Wellington Education District, the1 following would be the schools to which a male secondary assistant might be appointed.:—Wellington College, Hutt Valley High School, Wairarapa Cdllege, Rongotai College, and Palmerston North Boys' High School. Our population in New Zealand is such that the number of secondary schools (46) in the whole country would probably be less than the number in one education district in Great Britain, so that it appears absurd to limit teachers, by the suggested method of, appointment, to four or five secondary schools.

"The majority of the members of the association approved of a National Appointments Board. The procedure suggested was that the position should be advertised in the usual way, the local school council should select, say, the three best applicants, one from outside the school, and that the appointments board should then make the final choice. The association approved wholeheartedly of the raising of the school-leaving age to fifteen . years."