THE TEACHING PROFESSION

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13491, 18 May 1907, Page 6

THE TEACHING PROFESSION

OTAGO education BOARD.

IMPORTANT RECOMMENDATIONS.; : . [BY 'TELEGRAM. ASSOCIATION I .] / ■':•;::■'•.:■'■:.■: .';:-' DmvEDisr, Friday. A KtrxmEß of motions were discussed by the Otago " Education ' Board yesterday, dealing with 'matters affecting, the teaching profession. ;■.-The chairman (Mr. T. Mackenzie) moved: " That in order to place the; teaching profession on a . satisfactory basis, and also to secure efficient instruction, the Government be urged '.to; introduce at an early date - legislation'; pro-riding for the classification and ■, promotion of teachers, together ■with the granting of assured salaries based upon efficiency and length of service." '..; The motion was carried. ,* The chairman also moved:' " That whereas the Teachers' Education Act was passed in order to provide a retiring allowance for those fin the service of: the Department, and, farther, with the ;object of improving the efficiency of the service, and ©i giving hope of promotion'to the younger members of the start; and, whereas the legislation of : last session in the measure nuiimed the two latter considerations, this Board is of opinion that the Act. " should be amended m the direction ■..of',' requiring ?»teachers'; and officers to retire at a maximum age unless the Minister "for Education should otherwise direct."

A suggestion was made .that the end oi the motion be altered to the effect that, subject to the recommendation of the Education Board, the ; Minister may direct the retirement of an over-age teacher, and this modification was accepted by the mover. . The motion, as amended, was carried. Mr. ; Eraser "".That notice be cent to all uncertificated teacher's in the Board's service that the Board will advertise their positions in the month of February next, and that they may apply with other applicants for the position advertised, that the said teachers be informed, at the same time,', that ithe Board will ! grant all facilities in its power to enable them, within a reasonable time, to improve. their. educational ~ status; such teachers as are studying with a view to passing examinations to inform the Board at as early a date as possible." ~ ■Ho stated that there were 65 uncertificated teachers in

OtagiK ~ : - •'. • .V . " The Hon. T. Fergus said he could not support the motion. The; 65 uncertificated teachers "were in the Board's employ because the Board could get no other*. This proposal was altogether too drastic. .; ," ■.i The motion was lost. , .-■■.■■. Mr. Fraser mored : " That a eommittea, consisting of three or four members of the Board, together with the inspectors .of the District High Schools, . and , a representative from each District High School Com- > mittee, consider the" present staffing and curriculum of these schools, with a view to increasing ; their usefulness as the' principal rural schools of the-province, and report .to : ; the Board at an early date." "A MISCHIEVOUS PROVISION." The"; annual report : shows . that ; in,. 1906 there was a decrease }of 328 in the number of ;■ pupils attending : the Dunedin schools. The - number of pupils in the whole of the education ■ district ,was'; lower last year than in any year ,'• since ; 1883. This was due largely to a measles epidemic. Attention is ' pointedly ' drawn to .a v large' increase ,in the number of uncertificated or unlicensed teachers, most of whom are employed singlehanded in outlying ; districts. Of 464 adult teachers 13.8 per cent, do ,not possess i the essential . certificates ;of competence. The opinion is .emphatioallyexpressed 'that the present age limit for'free places in secondary schools is mischievous in its results. - The inspectors complain ; that owing to increase of work and, changes in methods the schools are inadequately staffed.