COST OF EDUCATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9014, 29 March 1888, Page 5

COST OF EDUCATION.

SCHEME OF RETRENCHMENT.

REDUCTION OF SALARIES.

The Committee of the Board of Education, to whom the correspoiidence received from school committees in reference to the Board's retrenchment scheme had been referred, reported yesterday as follows at a meeting of the Board :—

our Committee, having considered the correspondence received from school committees in answer to a circular relative to the reduct of the staff of teachers to the regulation scale, recommend that the Board should adhere to the resolution which was adopted upon the joint recommendation of the inspectors, in their report elated 22nd December, 1887, viz.:—(l) That the staff of assistants and pupil teachers at each school be reduced to the strict limits of the scale ; (2) that the scale be reduced by one pupil teacher in each school over .'SOO ; (3) that the employment of pupil teachers (under regulation 8) in schools from .'SO to -10 be discontinued : (4) that those pupil teachers who have twice tailed to pass the same exanimation, and have not obtained classification in class E, he dispensed with. Your committee further recommend that the reduction of the staff of teachers he carried out gradually, and in such a manner as to cause the least possible inconvenience to the schools. —Samgel Litre, Chairman.

The Chairman moved the adoption of the report. Mr. Udv moved an amendment, " That there be a re-adjustment of all salaries up to £150 on their merits ; that there be a reduction of 5 per cent, on all salaries from £150 to £200 ; 7A per cent, on those from £200 to £250; 10 per cent, on those from £250 to £300 ; 12$ per cent, on those from £300 to £350 ; and 15 per cent, on all above £350.

Mr. Cooper felt very much inclined to 1 support the amendment, as he thought that salaries should be reduced instead of teachers being discharged. He feared that they would have to reduce the number of teachers as well as the salaries, but he contended that this should bo done only when it was found impossible by the mere reduction of the salaries, to bring the Board's expenditure within its income. Mr. Goi.i>if. would oppose the amendment. He contrasted the position of the Otago Board with that of the Auckland Board, and said they were bound to follow the advice of the inspectors, who knew more about these matters than the members of the Board could be expected to know. Mr. Cooper said that the principle they had to follow in applying a scheme of retrenchment, was to apply that scheme so that it should do the least wrong. Mr. Worthington had come before the City Schools Committee, and submitted a list of teachers who could be discharged from his school, whilst, the salary of those who received higher pay need not be touched. lie (Mr. Cooper) held that a cruel wrong would be inflicted if this policy were pursued ; let the scheme of retrenchment touch everyone alike. If the recommendation of the committee were adopted a reduction would be etlected at the expense of a number of young men anil women, who would be thrown out of employment, whilst the larger salaries would remain as at present. He maintained that the reduction of the salaries of the headmasters should be greater than that of those who received a mere pittance sufficient to keep them alive. Ashe had already pointed out, the Board would probably have to reduce the number of teachers, beside cutting down the salaries ; but he contended that the first-mentioned step should only be i taken when it was found that tho reduction of salaries would not. bring their expenditure within their income. They had too many schools—that was the real evil—and for half-a-dozen schools, with '20 scholars in each school, they had six teachers, with a total of 120 scholars under their charge. Mr. Udv said that his amendment, if carried into effect, would bring about a saving of £1501 17s 6d. The Chairman pointed out that under the system proposed by the committee there would be a gradual saving of £2000, whilst in grants to committees £600 would be saved.

Mr. Golpie said that a gain of £1200 would be effected in the city schools, and ninny of these schools were too large. The Chairman contended that were the amendment carried, an exodus of the best teachers of the district would follow.

The amendment was put to the meeting and lost, the division being :—For, Messrs. Udv, Cooper, and Cart- ; against, the Chairman, Messrs. Moat, Upton, and G oldie.

The report was then agreed to.