TEACHERS' SALARIES

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 161, 8 June 1929, Page 9

TEACHERS' SALARIES

PROPOSED NEW SCALE. MORE INFORMATION NEEDED. BY MANAWATU TEACHERS. The new scale of teachers’ salaries, suggested by the Education Department, was discussed by the Manawatu branch of the N.Z.E.I. this morning. After various speakers had aired their views, both for and against the adoption of the tentative scheme, the meeting resolved not to express any opinion on the matter until further details have been supplied by the department. Amendments that the scheme be approved subject to review when the details are supplied, and also that the department be asked to supply certain specified details regarding the relation of grading marks to salary, were defeated. The president (Mr F. W. Moore) stated that the scheme was not an entirely new one. It was merely a simple method of paying out the same of money. The speaker had heard Mr T. B. Strong, Director of Education, speaking on the scheme, and Mr Strong had explained that the department did not desire to pay any increased amount in salaries, though probably a small increase in the total would be involved. The scheme was being submitted to teachers for consideration and, if rejected by the majority, would not be proceeded with by the department. Radical changes involved were, (a) Higher salaries were possible without shifts from one school to another \ (b) stability of staffs, as all changes in future would be compulsory, by order of the department. Teachers would not in future apply for appointments, but would be transferred like officers in other Government departments. The house allowance would be done away with and teachers provided with residences by the boards would need to pay rent, but in the speaker’s opinion this would be considerably less than the sum payable to a private landlord. Mr Strong, in the course of a lecture on the scheme, had refused to answer questions on matters of detail, as he had insisted that the scheme, at the present stage, was a matter of principle and details would be gone into later.

Replying to a question, Mr Swinbourn stated that the whole system hinged on the compulsory .transfer of teachers. It had been suggested that teachers could refuse a transfer on penalty of losing salary increments. Mr Strong had refused to give any definite announcement but had stated that the matter of a penalty would have to be considered. The chairman stated that the department would probably accept a reasonable excuse against a transfer. Replying to a further question, the chairman stated that, if approved by the various branches of the institute, the scheme would not immediately come into force. It would again be considered by the institute which would go to the department and speak with a united voice in suggesting any improvements or alterations. APPARENT OBJECTIONS.

Mr Campbell stated that he had carefully considered the scheme and there were certain apparent objections that would cause him to think a long itime before voting in its favour. “I think that you are pessimistic, stated the president. “The efficiency grades are so arranged by the department that, by the end of the sixth year, 'the ordinarily efficient assistant should be drawing a salary of £255. He should in twelve years increase his salary to £330. The new scheme appeared to offer good chances of regular increases. Mr C. C. Hills, of Longburn, stated that, in his opinion, the teachers had nothing to lose by adopting the new scheme. At the present time many teachers were.marking time at the maximum of their grade. The new scheme might give chances of regular increases. “I think it is going to retard progress greatly,” declared Mr Monne. “Under the new proposals it might; take a teacher fourteen years to reach the salary which he may now draw m four years.' ~,,,, Mr Swiiibourn pointed out tixat tne scale was fixed by the Director of Education who had to keep it within the amount of money he had at lus disposal. In the speaker’s opinion the scheme offered encouragement to entrants to the profession. Encouragement to enter should be given not only at the beginning but at the end of tne scale. So far as the compulsory transfer was concerned, in effect they had that now, as teachers in certain positions—probably half those present in the room were so situated -were drawing the maximum salary for those positions and had to apply for a transfer if they wanted an increase in salarv A reasonably efficient teacher might hope for regular yearly increases over periods until lie reached the maximum of his grade under the new scale. The salaries paid under the new scheme would be the most nearly approximating to the teacher’s present salary. “TOO INDEFINITE.” Mr Schwartz opposed the scheme. Teachers should cling to what little freedom they had in the matter of transfers, lie said. The speaker also called attention to a foot-note t-o the memorandum dealing with . the prostating that it was in the discretion of tie department whether vearly increases should be granted Mr Liggins (Rongotea) stated that he could not see how the scheme would ne couiu The speaker himself would not lose under the new scheme, but he did not see why the man who took his Place should. Personally, he sneaker was not satisfied, they had lot very much to go on and needed m Mks U ßailly- lo f’ think Mr Liggins is nuite right. The whole thing is too indefinite. I think the efficiency of the country schools will be impaiied. The proposal to charge rent for school houses appears very indefinite. AVe Cld have more details as to the rent. t“also oppose the compulsory transfer. The president explained that the complsory transfer clause applied only Assistants not to head teachers. Continuing’, the president stated that thev had to consider the scheme as a wlmle No details had yet been supplied as they had not so far been worked out. MORE DETAILS REQUIRED. Mr Liggins: I move that'we do not consider B tlio scheme until further details are supplied by the department The president: You will not get Campbell seconded the motion. The president stated that, in jus opinion, the branches and executive would have another opportunity of discussing the scheme before its adoption and after details had been worked out. As an amendment, Mr Swinbourn moved that the branch approve of the new salary scheme as a re-allocation of the present salary payments. He nut the motion that way, as he wished it made plain that they were not con-

tent with the present amount paid out in salaries.

Mr Hills seconded the amendment. Only three voted for the amendment and many against. Mr ' Swinbourn then called for a show of hands. On the show, the amendment was lost by 14 votes to 22.

The president expressed the opinion that Mr Liggins motion was a mistake as the department was not at present prepared to give them details. The motion, he said, was really irrelevant as it asked for details, whereas they were being asked by the department to consider the principle of the scheme. Mr Bary stated that, if they asked the Director of Education for details of the efficiency bars applicable to the teachers’ columns, the institute would be in a much better position to discuss the effects of the scheme. Mr Bary moved as an amendment, that the Director of Education be asked to furnish the grading numbers correspondmg with the efficiency bars. Mr Galland seconded this.

Mr Thompson said that the scheme fell down because the teachers did not know exactly what they were getting. “This is a rushed scheme,” stated Mr Campbell. “It is a new scheme altogether.

Mr Swinbourn moved a further amendment that the meeting approve of the principle of the new scheme, subject to the right to further criticise when details were available. Mrs Kendall seconded this, but the amendment was lost on a show of hands by 14 votes to 22.

Mr Bary’s amendment, that information on grading numbers and bars be requested from the department, was then put and lost on the voices. Mr Liggins’s motion, that the branch does not express an opinion on the salary scheme until further information is obtained from the department, was then carried on the voices without dissent.