APPOINTMENT OF TEACHERS.

Evening Star, Issue 12943, 5 May 1908, Page 4

APPOINTMENT OF TEACHERS.

TO THK EDITOR. Sir, —The teachers of this province are indebted to Mr Scott, member of the Education Board, for the courage (blind courage it may be) with which he places before the public his position with regard to his responsibility in the appointment and promotion of teachers. This position, according to his letter in your issue of the 30th ult.> is simply that he will ignore a responsibility placed upon him as member of the Education Board by Act of Parliament, lest he should at times fall foul of a committee, and apparently this is the line of action that some other members of the Board are also adopting. From the point of view of the public school teacher the position ie n very bad one indeed. In other linos ofTife the worker who gives his best for the welfare of the employer, and who has proved his zeal and ability, looks to that employer for fair play and encouragement. A laudable ambition to rise in his profession or calling actuates every good' citizen. When that ambition becomes all hut impossible of realisation we have relaxed effort and spiritless work. Kow, to whom is the public school teacher to look for. justice if the Education Board, his employers, take no interest in his advancement? Of the half-dozen candidates recommended by the Board to a committee for appointment to a vacancy probably two or three or more are practically equal as far as ability goes, and are therefore so far equally acceptable to the Committee. This body recognise no responsibility in the welfare of teachers outside their own school, and consequently do not take into account many other important claims put forward by the candidates'. The fact that a teacher has nobly done the Board’s work under trying circumstances and amid depressing surroundings may net as a bar to deserved promotion. The Board know his value and recognise his claims, but do not venture to do him justice, lest there should be disagreement with a committee. Surely this would be a deplorable position for a board to take up, and one which, if generally adopted, would prove the worthlessness of such a bodv and the need for centralisation. If teachers cannot look to their employers for justice thev must look beyond them—that is, to the Government and I think the Government see that the success of _ the whole system of primary education is threatened‘by the feeling of uncertainty as to promotion that exists among teachers, and the consequent unpopularity of the profession in the eyes of promising young men. There are‘other causes at work, but perhaps none so potent as the feeling that promotions axe not according to deserts. It is certain that, while the appointment of teachers is prac-

tically ia the hands «f 00m»ut1669 Justice ■will not be done, tifid this can be asserted without impeaching the integrity of the committees. If it were generally recognised thgt, the Board, while in duty bound to do their best for every school, are also bound to see justice done to their servants, committees, recognising how fait this is would feel less inclined to differ irotn the recommendation of the Board. .But what have we found the Board doing of late? Practically skying that they Wifi leave promotion in the hands of committees, bodies having no responsibility whatdeserving 16 ma^r promoting the most But committees do not consist of such E!f na n men as some would have us in/ir 1 hat many oommittees of very intelligent men, recognising the Board s responsibilities and fuller inlormation respecting candidates, are very loth to interfere with the Board’s choice As the Iciw fiwindflj tli6 Committee miy recoinmend any two-of the six candidates whose names have been forwarded by the Board On receiving this recommendation, it is surely the duty of the Board to again give judicial consideration to the matter, ahd, in as far as they have power, do justice at least as between these two candidates. It seems a pity that when the Board meet to consider the claims of candidates for a position in a school, a representative of the Committee of that school could not be present, that ho might more fully appreciate the grounds on which candidates are selected. Were such a course adopted, there would be more likelihood of the School Committee falling in with the Board’s selection, livery effort should be made to guide the committees to do justice to the applicants, while .conserving the interests of their own schools. But can anyone say that this is being done? There is no doubt that of late there has been in the Board a tendency to shirk responsibility in a matter of vital interest, not only to teachers, but to the welfare of education. — I am, etc., D. T. Fleming.' Balclutba, May 4.