GRADING OF TEACHERS

Evening Star, Issue 16196, 18 August 1916, Page 2

GRADING OF TEACHERS

Sir ,T. JefTery, Becretarv of th* Otpno branch of tho New Zealand Educational institute, writes to us as follows-

In last, night's 'Star' Mr D. T. Flcmin" tile chairman of the Education Board gave some illuminating figures showing how Otngo teachers, by comparison with Auckland teachers, -occupy a very humiliating: position on the graded list. But ho did not make one Unrig clear. He is reported to have, said: " The 85 automatic marks allowed had in some cases altogether. submerged the 75 marks awarded by the inspectors for meritalone." This is only an incomplete statement. The automatic marks are Axed for the whole of tho Dominion. The inspectors' marks arc fixed within "certain limits, and within these limits the variations are subject to the personal equation of the inspectors; and it is here that the great differences have mainly arisen. The following table will illustrate the point. To avoid the objectionable use of the word inspector, ns if is known our inspectors are actuated by i.'ue highest motives, I shall use the word local in referring to inspectors' marks: Per Cent. Group. Possible. Local. Local. A HO 75 70 H 120 75 02 <■■ 135 75 57 l» 140 75 54 E 150 75 50 F _, 160 75 47 This is a general tabic Ehowing the general trend, but. the figures are subject to variations which do not affect the general principle. Take two cases of several worked out in a report furnished to the Committee of Management of the OUgo branch of the N.Z.K.I. : (a) "A teacher in A group, who is an assistant, and has not been anything else, gels 5 for organisation, and then the local marks would he 65 out of a possible 100''—the possible 110 given in the table includes 15 for organisation, a number obtainable only by two classes specified. Ib) "In the highest group, F, if a teacher holds a D certificate (a common occurrence), the local marks are 75 and the automatic 76." It is only when the certificate is higher than a D that the automatic marks swamp the local. But as the same conditions exist throughout the Dominion in the awarding of holh local and automatic marks, the differences shown by Mr S'leming's figures should not exist where local marks are awarded on a common Dominion basis. There is no getting away from the fact that the teachers of Otago who have given long and faithful service have not received the generous treatment, accorded to Auckland teachers in similar positions. Otago teachers have faith in their inspectors, and are sure that, had a graded list, been in use here for years, as it has been in Auckland, the present unpleasant comparison would not have been possible. Experience will eliminate a great deal that, is objected 10, but. in the meantime the Assistant, Director must not be blamed for the position that has arisen, our inspectors' estimates must not be virwed with antagonism because, of the differences shown, and the educational public mush not: run y.way with the idea that Otago teachers are averse to a Dominion graded list. Experience will rectify defects.