TRANSFER OF TEACHERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17708, 17 February 1921, Page 8

TRANSFER OF TEACHERS

POLICY OF THE BOAftO. CHIEF INSPECTOR'S VIEWS. ADVERTISING VACANCIES. The Auckland Education Board, sitting in committee, tiecided on Tuesday evening that the headmaster of the Ellerslie school should be transferred to Nelson Street school. This was directly against the recommendation of the Chief Inspector, Mr. C. W. Garrard, who advised that the position at Nelson Street should be advertised. When the board met yesterday, Mr. Garrard asked, and was given an opportunity to explain his reasons for making his recommendation. If it was fcimply announced that the board had decided to transfer the head-; master of Ellerslie, said Mr. Garrard, the teachers would believe the action was taken with his approval. He wished' the teachers to know the reasans that influenced him in recommending the advertising of the position at Nelson Street school. He stood by the grading scheme, whatever its .faults. The teachers had asked for it, and many of them had a great deal of confidence in it. There had been much difference of opinion, particularly in Auckland, but the teachers were becoming reconciled to it. Should the board do one thing to make the teachers think it was going behind the grading scheme, that would destroy the confidence of the teachers in it?

In his opinion, all positions should be advertised. It would be an expense, but it would mean that the teachers of the highest grading would get them. That would be a more important matter than the saving of money. The headmaster of the Kllerslie school was receiving a salary greater than he should, because the attendance had gone down. On the face of it, it seemed reasonable to transfer that man to a position carrying a similar salary. But tnere were men above him on the graded list who might desii# to apply for the position. He knew of two such cases. None might wish to apply, but that had nothing to do with the board, which niust give the teachers the' opportunity of doing so.

Alternative Methods Open. There were two means of dealing with the situation, proceeded Mr. Garrard. The board could have asked all the men higher on the graded list whether they desired to apply for" the position. If none of them desired it. there would have been no injustice in making the transfer. Or the board could have advertised the Nelson Street vacancy; if no one higher in the graded list than the headmaster of Ellerslie applied, all applications could have been declined and the transfer made. In this matter he did not consider the man. He knew the hoadmaster at Ellerslie well, and was in fact a personal friend. But there were other teachers above him on the list entitled to the position at Ellerslie. Mr. A. P. Burns said the department had recommended that the headmaster of Ellerslie should be transferred. If the board did not exercise its right of transfer in this case it would do away with the right of transfer where a teacher was receiving a salary higher than the \size of the school' warranted. Mr. Garrard said the point was that the matter "was taken in committee. If it went out that the transfer was effected with his consent, the teachers would lose confidence in him a*s chief inspecjfcor. A ruling should be obtained from the department. The chairman, Mr. E. C. Banks, explained that the board had received a recommendation a year or so ago that when a school went down in grading the teacher should be transferred. The department had asked that the action should be taken in order to save money. The headmaster at Ellerslie was being offered a position with a salary equal to that which he was now receiving. If he refused it, his salary at Ellerslie would be reduced to the prober level, commensurate with the diminished size of the school, in three months. If no offer were made, his salary must go on "for five years at its present level. The board was merely i carrying out the wishes of the departI ment.

Mr. Garrard said he would -write to the department and object to the transfer, explaining hia reasons. Over-Emphasis of Finance Regretted. Mir. H. S. W. King said it was very regrettable that the financial aspect should be considered to the extent that it was; that when it was a case of the right man in the right place, doing good work, if the school went down in size he must go. The chairman said the department had decided on a certain policy, and the board must adhere to it. In this case it was a matter of £40 a year, aggregating £200 for the five years in which the present salary must be paid at Ellerslie if the transfer were not offered. The secretary read the resolutions on which the board's policy was based. The most recent of these stated that if the board thought fit, the policy could be suspended and any case considered on its merits. After further discussion Mr. King moved that the resolution carried deciding oa the transfer be rescinded and the matter deferred until after communicating with the department. The chairman ruled that the motion must be carried unanimously, or be the jubject of notice. It was put, and there beine one dissentient, Mr. King said he would give notice to move it at the next meeting.