APPOINTMENT OF TEACHERS.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 11127, 20 January 1899, Page 4

APPOINTMENT OF TEACHERS.

Sib, — By to-day's issue of your paper I see (not before it was time) the worthy chairman of the Education Board has taken exception to the manner adopted by the Napier School Committee in appointing teachers. In the interests of fair play and our education system I think it is high time that not only the recommending of teachers, but the appointing of pupil teachers, was taken out of the hands of the local committees, unless it is to become a scandal and disgrace to the whole educational system.

It is only a short time since the staff of the Napier school went up a step one after the other, so to speak, like a street, and now there are two appointments, made without anyone outside of the Napier committee knowing anything of the matter. We are given to understand our system is a colonial one not a parochial one, but it would seem "Bumble" is very much in evidence lately, and if the parochial feeling is not checked, and appointmentsfor the future made by regulation, not by the favor of committees, merit will stand little or no ohance of preferment. Already the other schools in the district are desiroUß of following the pernicious example set by Napier, and unless a candidate for their favor has had the luck to be born close to the parish pump, and has never let go the handle, he or she stands a very small chance of obtaining it. With regard to pupil teachers, what could be more simple than their appointment? The Board holds a scholarship examination every year, and if that examination is worth, anything it should be the means of selecting the most promising scholars in the district. It is easy for the Board to find out the number of vacancies there would be and probable vacancies there are likely to be for the year. The examination places candidates in the order of merit. What is more simple and fairer than to offer the vacancies in the same order, and if it is thought to go through a high school course for two years is an advantage, then those who follow that course should receive priority of choice ? This would do away with all favoritism, and I venture to say the Board would not have to lament so few boys taking up teaching eb a calling. Much more might be said in favor of all appointments being made in accordance with proper regulations and by the central authority, but I defy any champion of the present system to point to one good feature in it. The Act says one thing, the committee say another. The Board, for the sake of peace, allows things to drift, and our educational system suffers. — I am, &c,

Sartor. Danevirke, January 18th, 1899.