TEACHERS' GRADING

North Otago Times, Volume CIII, Issue 13651, 19 August 1916, Page 2

TEACHERS' GRADING

DISCUSSION BY EDUCATION BOARD. MORE INFORMATION WANTED. . The much -discussed teachers' grading scheme was again cjousidcred by the Otago Education Board at its meeting on Thursday afternoon, when the unsatisfactory position allotted to Otago teachers generally was pointed out by thc.clwirinan (Mr.D.T. Fleming), j't seemed to him, he said, that the Otago teachers, for 'sonic reason'or other, had suffered very badly. The 85 automatic marks in some, cases altogether submerged, the 75 marks .awarded for merit alone. To illustrate the unfair position in which Otago- teachers were placed he.quoted from tables showing the relative positions of head masters, first assistants, and certificated women teachers in various education districts. In Auckland 1 all the 17 head'masters, of the schools in grade 7 were among the first. 82.0n. the list, whereas in Otago .only three oiit. of 11 such headmasters were in the' first 1)2. Auckland had-103 male' first', assistants, of whom JO'were in'the-first 25, but out of Otago's GO-iuale'first assistants only one' was in .the first; 20. : . .Yet while Auckland secured'.79. per cent.' of proficiency passes Otago secured 80 per cent, of tripficiencrcs/ Auckland, with m certificated women teachers,'had 14 in the first"2s. and Southland, with 131 silch teachers, had two in the first 25; and Otago, with 284, had two in the first .25. Auckland had three' times' the ratio it ought to have, and Southland oyer '.twice/-' Any schcmiy-which brought about results like that must have something radically wrong about it.' It seemed to-him, that,one of the first things the, Department should have done would have' been. to. get all the I thief inspectors together in conference and arrive at sonic, standard and basis on which; msfrks were to be awarded. [As if was,-the director went round-ami met some of them .in different-sections. TJic graded list disclosed some fearful and/wonderful'results' apparent lo any.one. who went.'through it.. He observed fronr inspired; paragraphs. and. otherwise that a-bold .attempt was being made to, create,the impression that in spite erf .the ..widespread irritation and discontent,, a wonderful, successful re-' •sult'had •be'en achieved. The Assistant Director of. Education .was coming .here.soon .to thresh out thc\whole -thing with the'teachers, aii'd,with.the determination to convince..them hero that the grading was right. He took it, however, that he was prepared to reopen the question in some cases, and it might be that the conference would re-, suit in an amendment of the scheme. The board'must-do what it could to see that its teachers were ..justly treated. The teachers had asked for this scheme for years, and now that (hey: had got ; , it there was a wave of dissatisfaction from Auckland to the Bluff. The Minister or the Department had said that the scheme was not going to be brought into operation now, but was.only prepared for some future use. That, he took it, was to some extent a backdown, because they all understood the scheme was going to brought into operation at once, Mr Livingstone: How do you account for Otago being so unfairly treated? Do you think that Otago is so much superior to other, places that it needs to be handicapped? . .' The chairman said that the marks on which the grading had been decided were not within their reach, and they Could only judge of the results. He could not explain, and he did not think that anybody else could explain, the humiliating position which'Otago teachers occupied on the list. Mr McKinlay said ...they, wore verv. largely , ignorant about the method adopted, by the Department, aud if they could have a.conference with Mr Caughlcy thev might be able to come to a better judgment. They were all aprced that the Otago teachers were suffering gVayc injustice,- and. they wanted more information. They might find, as Mr Caughlcy insisted, , that there was, some. very irood reason for' the position adopted. He moved "that' Mr Caughlcy be asked to meet the board in conference'regarding the gradin.'r scheme, on a date to be arranged." Mr Brugh seconded tlie motion. Mr Horn said he would like to hoar the chief inspector's views, but Mr Richardson pointed out that the whole question was sub judice.' All hei could say was that the grading had been done by.four inspectors in conference, in accordance with the list sent to them by the Assistant Director. Mr Wallace 'said lio sympathised very much -'with the Otago teachers in the position, in. which they were placed; It' Was right' that they should hear some reasons why the graded scheme had : been carried out on such line's. The motion was carried. ''. Mr Wilkinson then'moved: "That this board expresses its surprise and' disappointment that the grading scheme which has been provided in response to the urgent demand of the teachers of the Dominion has proved utterly unacceptable to those it is intended to benefit, as in its present form it does/grave [ injustice to and prejudicially affects the prospects of a very large number of worthy men and womeh. This board further respectfully requests that immediate steps be taken to place this scheme on a more satisfactory basis so that the confidence may be secured of. all teachers throughout the Dominion.','..' Mr Wilkinson said the list had entirely defeated the purpose the teachers had in view when they asked for such a scheme. Either the graded scheme was a grave injustice to the teachers of. Otago or else we had had an unduly exalted idea of the educational work carried on in Otago for many, years.— (Members: "No, nol") He quoted statistics justifying Otago's claim to be the educational centre of New Zealand, and pointed out that other parts of the Dominion were eager to obtain the services of teachers from Otago. Mr Todd seconded the motion, and referred to the spleudid results achieved by Otago in the proficiency and standard examinations, Mr Brugh said he was in accord with the idea behind the motion, but did not favour the form of it. It was putting them in the position of taking up cudgels on behalf of all the teachers of the Dominion. Mr Borrie -said he was not in a position to speak, as he had not-seen the scheme. It was not their duty to go and fight for the teachers. The teachers Were quite able to figlit their own battles. (Expressions of dissent.) The chairman and others expressed the view that Mr Wilkinson's motion would lay the board open to receive, a slap from the Department. He suggested that the motion be held, over till after the conference, and Mr Wilkinson agreed to withdraw it,,