CLASSIFICATION OF TEACHERS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5555, 17 January 1879, Page 3

CLASSIFICATION OF TEACHERS.

TO THE EDITOR OP THE NEW ZEALAND TIMES. Sir, —Without travelling out of my province by entering into the question of the respective merits of the systems of classification of teachers by the Board and by the Education Department, I wish to state that the assertions contained in a letter in yesterday morning’s paper by your correspondent, who styles himself “ Another Wellington Teacher,” can hardly be looked upon as facts on which an argument may be based. Both the system of the Board and that of the Education Department are alike in construction, —classification being awarded for scholarships, and division for professional skill and experience. They differ only in the number of classes and divisions, and in the extent of the scholarships looked for. Under both systems educational attainments and professional skill are separately rated ; under both systems a comparatively inexperienced teacher can, by his superior scholarship, gain the highest classification for scholarship ; and also under both systems an inexperienced or unsuccessful teacher would rank low in the division representing his practical usefulness as a teacher. It cannot, therefore, be represented, in fairness, that the system of the Board looked only for a scholarship test, or that the system of the Education Department, any more than that of the Board, will necessarily place men of the greatest professional ability and experience in the highest classes.—l am, &0., Robert Lee. January 1A '