GRADING OF TEACHERS

Evening Star, Issue 16195, 17 August 1916, Page 8

GRADING OF TEACHERS

OTAGO'S PROTEST,

A HUMILIATING POSITION!

CONFERENCE DESIRED,

The Ot'ago Education Board had before them this morning the many resolutions of the Otago Educational Institute and the teachers expressing dissatisfaction with the department's grading scheme, and some very decided opinions were expressed. Chairman (Mr D. T. Fleming) said that the Otago teachers appeared to have suffered badly. The 85 automatic marks allowed had in some cases altogether submerged the 75 marks awarded "by the inspectors for merit alone, and any scheme that, brought about such results must have something radically wrong about it. Some of tin; anomalies under the. system were clearly shown in the figures* under the grading scheme. Thus Auckland, with 17 schools in grade 7, had 17 head teachers in the first 62 on the grading list; llawke's Bay, with three such schools, had three head teachers in the first 62; South Canterbury, with three such schools, had three head 'teachers in the first 62; Nelson the same; North Canterbury, with 10 such schools, bad 9 head teachers in the first 62; Wellington, with eight such schools, had six head teachers in the first 62: while Otago, with 11 such schools, had only 3. in the first 62. Similarly Mr Fleming show.ed that while Auckland, with 103 male first assistants, had 19 graded in the first 25 and 27 in the first 50: and while Wellington, with 58 male first assistants, had 3 in the first 25 and 9 in the ,-ii-st 50; Otago, with 60 male first assistants, li.nl only 1 in the first 25 and 7 in the first 50.' And yet Auckland only obtained 79 per cent, of proficiency passes to Otago's 80 per cent. Similarly, in the matter of women teachers, Auckland, with 468 certificated teachers, had 14 in the first 25 and 18 in the ' first 50; Southland, with 131 certificated, had 2 in the first 25 and 5 in the first 50; while Otago, with 264 certificated, had only 2 in the first 25 and 4 in the first 50. In other words, Auckland had three times, and Southland twice the proportionate ratio. The first thing that should have been done before the scheme wag promulgated was to call all the chief inspectors in conference and arrive at soma standard of awarding marks. The graded list as it stood disclose*! some fearful and wonderful results. ft was understood, however, that the assistant-director was coming down to confer with teachers, and the speaker took it that ho would be prepared to reopen the question in some cases: and it might bo that the conference would result in an amendment of the scheme. In its present form it had raised a wave of dissatisfaction from one end of the Dominion to the jither. The Minister had said that the scheme was not going to be brought into operation now, hut was only prepared for future use. That,, he took it. was a back-down to some extent, because all had understood that the scheme, was going to be brought into operation at once. He- observed from inspired paragraphs that a bold attemptwas being made to create the impression that in spite of wide irritation and discontent a wonderfully successful result had been achieved. Of course he had no idea of what had been expected, but it was certainly impossible to explain the humiliating position Otago teachers occupied in the list. Mr P. M'Kinlay said that they were to have a conference with Mr Ca'ughlev, after which thev might be able to como to a better judgment. They were all agreed that the Otago teachers were suffering grave injustice, and thev wanted more information. They might'then find that, as Mr Caughley insisted, there was some good reason for the grading adopted. He moved—" That_ Mr Caughley be to meet the board in conference regarding the grading scheme on a date to be arran eed.''

Mr W. R, Brugh seconded 'l"-,;< motion w-'R carried.

Mr J. H. Wilkinson moved—" That this board express their surprise and disappointment that tii* grading scheme, which has been provided in response to the urgent demand of the teachers of the Dominion, has proved utterly unacceptable to those it is intended to benefit, as in its present form it does grave injustice t-n and prejudicially effects" the prospects of a very large number of worthy men and women. This board further respectfully request that immediate steps be taken to place this scheme on some satisfactory basis,' so that the confidence may be recured of all teachers throughout "the bominion."

Mr Todd, in seconding referred to the splendid results attained in Otai?o in the proficiency and standard examination.". The chairman expressed the opinion that the motion would lay the board open to receiving a slap from" the dep.-.-tment, and he suggested that the matter should be held over until after tho conference. This was agreed to.