TEACHERS AND SCHOOLS.

Northern Advocate, 26 July 1923, Page 8

TEACHERS AND SCHOOLS.

EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE AND THE MINISTER.

THE ANNUAL INTERVIEW

The annual interview between the Minister of Education (Hon. C. J. Parr) and the executive of the New Zealand Educational Institute took place last week, when the deputation presented tho resolution passed by the annual meeting of the institute in May last.

Mr C. T. Aschman, president of tho institute, was the principal speaker, and in opening emphasised that the institute did not confine itself to the mere "bread and butter" side of the profession, but, as had been demonstrated during the past few years, and particularly last year, had set up recess committees to investigate and report on various aspects of primary school education, He instanced the reports that had \jCen brought down by recess committees on the subjects of arithmetic, history, and the train-

ing of what were called "intelligent non-intellectuals." These would be referred the branches, and he hoped that the results, which would reflect the consensus of. opinion of 5000 teachers in New Zealand, would receive due consideration. He also reminded the Minister of a previously expressed promise to consider the question of a teacher's professional register, which would enable the profession to purge its ranks of undesirables, and so raise its general status. Exception .was taken by teachers, said Mr Aschjnan, to an official note.in the Department's official gazette practically dictating that the "Gazette" must be read and initialled by each member of a school staff.

"The 'Gazette,' I suppose, is worth reading," said the Minister.

''Well, yes," stiid Mr Aschman, "especially the last two pages containing the vacancy lists. Otherwise I suppose teachers only read what attracts them." Mr Aschman also referred to the old question of the consolidation of small schools as making for better educational progress and less expense. The Minister interjected tliat the first essential to such a reform, which he; personally supported, .was the conversion of the small farmer,who liked to have A school within < two miles of his home. Then there was the question of reads, and the price of benzine, and tbe cost of providing the new central school. GRADING AND REPORTS. On tbe subject of the ''grading scheme, Mr Aschman said that the profession generally recognised that this was, a permanent thingj. b\it there were several anomalies. The equitable operation of the scheme: was frustrated by the policy of certain Boards in illegally fe-ad\*ertising vacancies, in conferring appointments upon applicants graded, below others, and- 1 so on.

Mr Parr: "It was not the intention of the Legislature to .give n. man substantially 011 the graded list preference to the man many marks or places abdye him." As to the question of re-adve'rtisingv he understood that such was lawful. He would look into the point. In reply to a reference to confidential reports on teachers, the Minister said that steps Would be taken to put a stop to such practice, except, of course, in such cases as required report, i.e., if anything had happened since the grading of a teacher and his application for a new position which in the opinion of the inspectors ought to be made known to the teacher's prospective employers. The Minister agreed with Mr Aschman that -a conference representative of the institute, the inspectorate, and the Department on the subject of grading was desirabte, and he would see that this was held. SUPERANNUATION. Mr D. W. Low asked for the introduction or the amending Bill, now nine years old, for dealing with superannuation anomalies. The Minister said that he had- recently secured a vote of £25,000 to put the superannuation fund on a sound basis, and the anomalies it wias desired to remove would cost another £25,000. He was afraid it could not be done. Mr Low asked for the abolition of scholarships with the object of diverting the present expenditure for the benefit of: country children desiring secondary education..'

The Minister said that his sympathy was with the country child. They had to consider, however, the desire of the countrv, pfirent to get his children to a town college by njeans of a scholarship. . . \ .. ;. ;• ■• ;

Mr F. A. Garry >dealt with tho problem of intelligent'non-intellectuals,'' or non-awi'demic children, and thc\ necessity for devising a, scheme to prevent'tii is class from drifting-..into blind alloy occupations and perhaps becoming undesirable citizens. IJe also stressed the necessity for a scheme of salaries, such as the Hvlton scheme, which would have the effect of checking the unending movement- of teachers from school to school in search of promotion. ' ! The Minister agreed that the authors of the! Hylton scheme should get into touch) with., the Dcpiirtm-ent with the object of demonstrating if possible that such a schenie would not involve

more expense, i ( Mr Parkinson stressed the necessity for a better basis of paynUcnt of tcachcr? in district liigh schools, in order

to attract a better class of teacher to these positions, and so raising the status of the schools. financial Stringency. The Minister, in reply, promised to eoHsidor the various matters put before him, but emphasised that he could not pledge himself to anything involving- additional expense. It was verydifficult for him to get any extra money for liis Department, in view of the still, existing stringency of funds, but in regard to other matters he promised tlicm his most favourable consideration. He expressed very great appreciation of the work that had been done by the institute's recess committees, and desired the Department to convey to these committees liis personal gratitude for their labours as co-workers with him in the task of improving the work of education.