A' SCHOOL : QUESTION. ;

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13666, 6 February 1908, Page 7

A' SCHOOL : QUESTION. ;

APPOINTMENT OF TEACHERS.

WHO .1$ TO DECIDE!

The question of the respective merits of different methods of appointing school teachers again-came before the Auckland Education Board at yesterday's meeting. The matter was brought up by Mr. G. Edgecombe, who moved for a return showing the names of all teachers in the Board's service who had been in their present positions for five years or more. If these particulars were obtained, he said, they would serve as a guide to the inspectors in making recommendations as to new appointments, and give teachers an opportunity of obtaining change and promotion. A change was often-desirable, especially as teachers were ' frequently located in districts where there were not suitable facilities for improving their qualifications. Mr. J. D. McKenzie said that there were many excellent country teachers who lacked the opportunity for improvement. Mr. J. Stallworthy, M.P., considered that the inspectors in making their recommendations should take into consideration the systems in vogue in Wellington, Otago, and North Canterbury, with special reference to back country service." Mr. C. .J. Parr, in defending the system now in operation* said that ii would be a misfortune to the public, the Board, and the teachers if they reverted to the old system under which members of the Board were practically allowed to decide the qualifications of teachers, and the result of such* a system was naturally not always creditable to the Board. It often created dissatisfaction amongst teachers, and raised an outcry of favouritism. Under the present system the merits of a candidate might bo sometimes accidentally overlooked, but in such cases it was the duty of the Board to rectify the mistake as far as possible. As to selection by committees, they did not always choose the best teachers. Nearly all the Boards in the Dominion consulted the inspectors, and took their advice, subject, of course, to reasonable criticism, the recommendations not being swallowed holus bolus. Mi". Stallworthy said that he had known instances in which teachers with, say, about ten years' service had been recommended for more highly paid appointments when other teachers, with per,haps 15 years' service, had been overlooked. Such instances had occurred in regard to senior assistants in large schools, and the only reason given for not .recommending teachers with the greater length of experience was that it was the impression of the inspectors that they would make good assistants. He did not think it fair that teachers should be made to suffer through a mere impression of the inspectors.

The Chairman (Mr. L. J. Bagnall)said that it was necessary that special attention should be paid to teaching- skill. This should always be regarded as a first qualification, even as compared with liter* ary attainments. They had cases of teachers holding a B.A. degree who were not so suitable as teachers as girls holding only a Dl. certificate. Mr. Parr: Some teachers a.ro excellent organisers, whilst as class teachers they are exceedingly indifferent. Mr. Edgecumbe's motion was agreed to, and it was also decided, upon Mr. Stallworthy's motion, that the inspectors be informed that the grading system was not intended to supersede the regulations in regard to the selection of teachers. '.'':'■■■' g