CANVASSING BY TEACHERS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CVI, Issue 12571, 5 August 1901, Page 6

CANVASSING BY TEACHERS.

TO THE EDITOR. ; . Sir, —Amid air the evils -which surround the education system (and there are a good many), there is none which is more hateful to teachers than, that -of canvassing committeemen in order to obtain an appointment to a position.' "Yet, why do they do it ?" asks some one. Simply because it now generally means that the best canvaS'Sericbtaihs the-position, and if a teacher objects to crawling round committeemen, or from his isolated position in the country is unable to do so, then he can-go without, and remain in some country hole perhaps for years on end. Doubtless committeemen like to be made much of, bub now a candidate for a position hag to' supply such full 1 information when forwarding his application, that it should be, a simple matter for a committee to make an appointment solely by merit. Merit alone -should count, and not local, masonic, religious or sporting influences, : which create such injustices. Over and over again a teacher sends in an application, only to" find that one of inferior certificate has been appointed to the position. He quite understands how it is, and nine cases out of ten will mutter to himself, "Local influence!" and hurl maledictions on the vile system of canvassing. '_ And so it goes on year after year, C 3 rising ever the head of C2, B 4 over 82, and so on times without end. ' When will the Board .of Education stamp out the evil, or supply another system of appointment?' The whole system, although better than it was a few years aigo, is rotten, and dt is quite time- there was a change. Why not make the appointments themselves .(as'l believe is done in Wellington) guid'ed by the.inspectors, who alone know each teacher's ability ? _ I know from experience that many committeemen do not know the difference between an A and an E certificate, and when it comes to distinguish between, say, B2 and D 3, they are completely bewildered. I feel sure that it would be for the good of the country and for the good of the teachers if the power of making appointments were taken out of«,the hands of committees, and left solely with the Board of Education. Then perhaps a teacher, after a few -yearns of hard, .willing Work in some country hole, would be able to look forward to-some promotion, without having to engage in unseemly scrambles. —I am, etc., NOT-A-CRAWLER.