SECONDARY SCHOOLS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10898, 12 May 1921, Page 7

SECONDARY SCHOOLS

TEACHERS'GONFERENCE NUMBER OF IMPORTANT REMITS PASSED., * CLASSIFICATION AND GRADING. At the Wellington College yesterday the annual meeting of the Secondary School Assistants' Association of New Zealand wae opened, Mr R. M. Leing. M.A. (Christchurch), {presiding. There were present some fifty delegates from all over New Zealand. The chairman said that a great deal hui been done since the last meeting- In regard to the classification and grading schemes, he was afraid that they appeared to be more satisfactory than wae actually the case. However, the Government had met them fairly. One aspect of the scheme was the fact'that - -they were getting'toomuch centralisation. It would be desirable to devise some method of obtaining local interest whilst the salaries -were safeguarded. He held that the secondary schools conference should be carried out on a democratic basis—one man one vote. They were very badly in need of co-ordination between primary and secondary schools. The presentation of the executive's report respecting- the, alteration of the constitution was deferred. Mr R. M. Laing, M.A., delivered hie presidential address, after which Mr F. M-artyn Renner was unanimously reelected to the position of secretary and treasurer, several Speakers stressing the splendid work done by Mr -Renner. REMITS CARRIED.

The following remits were carried after discussion:—. , . . That teachers should be _ allowed to appeal not only against their grade but also against position in any grade.— (Rangiora and Christchurch.) That this association reaffirms the principle adopted by the secondary school teachers in conference with the Minister in July. 1900. and approved by the Minister, that the Ossification of teachers in secondary schools be .lone by the -principal and inspectors in conjunction.—(Christchurch.) That returned soldier teachers in secondary schools be allowed the same concessions as to their teaching service as is allowed to returned soldier teachers in -primary schools, namely, that each year of war service count as two years for grading and superannuation. - (Christchurch.) That the Education Department be requested to send all appeals against grading to the Appeal Board mpthe proper districts, whether the appeals state tire definite grounds or not.—(Chnetohurdh.) As clause 16 of the regulations relating to the grading and classification of teachers (December, -1920) admits of varied interpretations, it Is desirable that the phrase “duties commonly required of secondary school teach-, era” be defined.—(Chriatchuxch.) That the Minister be requested to amend clause 16 of the regulations, mew tioned in remit services of each, full-time Mtfetant shall be at the disposal of the Board of Governors for 30 hour* per week, for the performance of duties commonly required of secondary school teachers, provided that all non-resident teachers whe take part in the supervision of.boarders at preparation or in the boarding-heitie or elsewhere shall receive a .remuneration equal to that paid to technical school teadhers for work done after « p.m —(Lxeoutive.) That the question, of setting up a Transfer and Promotion Board be left in the hands of the incoming executive, with instructions to report to tits local branches. —(Executive.) That clause 33 of the regulations governing leave of absence be amended to substitute “two years” for "one year’ for such special purposes as may be ap. proved of by the governing body and the department.—(Christchurc h.) That the Minister be urgently requested to amend clauses 18 and 19 of tiie regulations issued December Bth, 1920. in such manner o& to make it perfectly clear that no board is expected to dismiss any teacher should a school fall iu grade; and, further, that any teacher affected by a fall in grade of fids school aha 11 have the option of accepting either (1) a lower salary in his own school, or (2) a transfer to such a position in another school as oarries with it the same salary as the position in his former school. In case of a transfer, removal expenses shall be paid by the department.—(Executive.) That the Miniver be requested to amend the regulations. (December, 1920) in such a way as to give secondary teachers the same advantages a® are given to technical teachers bv the regulations for technical teach bis, Doownbw, 1990.—* (New Plymouth.) That in paragraph 22, schedule 3, put 3 Regulations, December, 1920. the words, ‘‘Provided that in the ossS of schools grade HI. . . women J 8300" be deleted.—(W'hangarel.) ' ' That mixed secondary schools, carrying out special oourses of work,” should - receive special consideration, with regard to staffing—an additional Grads D teaoher to be allowed owing to the greater difficulty of teaching such schools.—(Rangiora.) .

That provision be made tor extra salary in the case- of first- assistant#.— (A Uckland.) That in order to secure greater efficiency in secondary schools; a more liberal scale of staffing be granted.—(Wellington —Women Teachers.) That women teachers in secondary eqhools proceed by £ls increments from

the minimum to the maximum salary of their grade, as is the case with women teachers in primary schools. —(Wellington —Women Teachers-) That the annual increments for mole assistants be £ls in all grades-—(Auck-land.) That tbs salary of women entrants into secondary schools be raised to JSStttk —Wellington—Women Teachers:) That the capitation grant of £2 10s per pupil be increased in tbs case or smaller schools carrying out special courses, owing tothe much greater proportionate cost for incidentals in the working of such schools than in the Working, of larger schools. —(Rangiora./ That this association affirm tbs principle that the salaries of secondary school teachers should be fixed by Parßanient«v statute, and not by departmental regulations.—(Wellington.) That in the salary schedule for secondary teachers salaries should definitelv depend on grade of position below. — (Blenheim.) SUPERANNUATION. The following remits, dealing with superannuation, were passed:— That association again urge upon the Minister tne justice of computing retiring allowances on the three best years, ss in the Public Service, instead of on the last times years, as at present. —(Auckland.) That more liberal provision be made for widows in the Superannuation Act.— (Auckland.) - Tnat urgent representation be made to the Minister to the effect that the maximum retiring allowance under the Teoshers Superannuation Act (£3OQ) is no longer adequate or just.—(Wellington.) That the superannuation regulations enabling a male teacher ho retire with SS years' service or at the age of OO years; that service at a normal school Srior to the passing of the Buperannnaon. Act be counted as service in term* of that Act: that a full coarse for a degree up to three years be counted os Service for superannuation, provided that back payments be made tor the. period, based on the •‘oommencing” salary; that whereas the department has approved of service in certain private echools, each schools being registered, for the purpose/ of. grading, service in the soma school/ prior to the passing of the Superannuation Act, to counted as service in terms of that Act.—(Christchuroh.) That the N.Z.S-tS.A-A. expresses its satisfaction at the action of the New Zealand University in inangurating the system of-examining candidates for pass degrees in New Zealand, and that a copy of this resolution be sent to the Minister, the Director of Education, the New Ziwlnnd University Senate, and to the four Universitly College Councils. (New Plymouth.) That the New Zealand ffnivcial? Sen ate he requested to alitor all candidates for pass degrees to pass in science subjects without the necessity of attending lectures and laboratory practice at one of the four University Colleges; all candidates, however, to be required to give evidence of having gone through an approved coarse of practiced work, and to pass a practical examination.—(New Plymouth.) That the Education Department be asked to odd a danse to the existing regulations to enable bona fide secondary teachers to obtain eduoational bursaries. —(Wellington.) That (at department be requested to insure teachers under the Workers’ Compensation Act.—(Wellington.) ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The election of officers resulted as follows :—President, R. M. lasing, M_A.(Christfchuroh); Vice-president, Mins N. E. Coed, M.A. (Wellington); hen. secretary end treasurer, F. Martyn Benner. M.A. (Wellington); hon. auditor. W. A. Alexander, M.A., LLfi. (Wellington); executive, F. H. Campbell, ILA. (Dunedin). R. H. Rockd. ILA. (New Plymouth), A. C. Gifford. M.A. (Wellington), H. Robson, M.A. (Blenheim). £. Carradus, B.Sc. (Auckland.). It was decided to vote Mr Renner an honorarium of twenty-five guineas for the excellent work dime by nun in the past year. The meeting concluded by the passing of thanks to the Press and also Mr and Mrs CreeweU for afternoon tea and generous arrangements.