EDUCATION ACT AMENDMENT BILL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14282, 3 August 1908, Page 2

EDUCATION ACT AMENDMENT BILL

DISCUSSED BY THE EDUCATION INSTITUTE. is _ A speeial meeting of (lie Otago Educai- tioiwl institute was Jielcl on Saturday morno ing in the Technical School, foriiic puri- poso of discufriing the Education Act v Amendment Bill, now before the House of Representatives. There wero about 50 y members present, and Mr 15. \\\ Carring,s ton, of Pine Hill, president, ocupicd the chair. Members of tho Education Board J"; and the School Committees' Association had 0 bean iiivif.cd to attend, but the only gentJo"ian from these bodies to put in an ap- . pearaneo was Mr G. 0. Baker, secretary ' of tho association. The Chairman said hn wished- to mako a personal acknowledgement of iho honour " done him by appointing him president for the coming year. If lie had allowed sentiL ment to stand in the way ho would have * declined tho honour, but he regarded it as a privilege and a duty for members to : accept responsibility- in any capacity in 0 which they could possibly help forward the 1 institute. As they wore aware, their - special meeting was called to consider the ;1> Education Act Amendment Bill at present a under discussion in Parliament. Ho :• thought it would be acknowledged that . uiere was evidence on the. face of' it that e this was a bona fide effort to grapple with ; the difficulty and to meet the disadvantages ii that tcaeheivj had .suiTc.jd from for many „ years pist.—(Applause.) It stood to reason one act could not overcome the grievances 0 of so many years ttanding, but an honest .. eltort-was being made, and he thought that f should prevent them from adopting the , T ?'° carping critics. Nevertheless, it atso slootl Id reason if this was to become ! . permanent advantage to the Dominion > it should bo eriticiid. He thought tho _ meeting would have a good opportunity v ".''M ™o various taMes had been con- ; sidered. The black board showed a sura- . Mary of the sohcdules. These at first seoiued perplexing. Ho then proceeded to » explain them, and said ho thought it would , txpediale mat teas if memkts who had any . motions were to table them in proper form. 1 He went on to sa<- that one feature of'the , bill was that tho pupil teachers would be j giudually abcilishod, facing replaced by s assistant, toachcrs. They would also see that a minimum salary rising to a maxi--3 mum was provided in each grade One j, matter which needed oareful attention was 1 I. i! a teacher's salary could : ?•. '/ t 11S 61 onc SKide, and i»OU if it fell two grades. Mr Jeffory, of Anderson's Bay, explained , with regard to tho provisions relatin" to i schools comiug .within grade 6a, that ho i had written to Mr Jos. Allen, M.P. <■ requesting him to interview tho Minister - oil tho subject. Tho position was not yet t satisfactory, tho telegram received in reply I being somewhat ambiguous. I Mr Allnutt (Kaikorai) moved—" That this 1 mooting of teachers heartily congratulate 1 he- Minister pf Education in the introduc--1 tion ot a bill which provides for a more * nbcra.l scale of staffing and of salaries." . Ho believed the nassing cf such a resoluI yen 111 firet place would lie wise. He did not think this meeting was quite tho . place for hypocritical work, and he hoped t.lmt much of it would not be in evidence. If a. multitude of debateable points in tho r measure wero referred to, and questions ' raised, it might be thought that the teachers ' did not know what they wanted or where , f.S v were. What ho liked about this bill was the tendency it had to uplift. It J was something definite in tho way of ! assisting teachers as a whole, and ho ■ thought that they should show their ap--1 provail of such a laudable endeavour. Obviously their first duty was to receive the bill very heartily, aiid then go into dc- ! tails. Although ho could not but -regret that ! the average attendance had been the issue instead of the average roll, which would 1 have been more satisfactory. Still he re- > cognised that the bill was an honest, effort on the part of tho Minister to give teachers a lift in the right direction. i Mr G. W. C. Maedonald (Macandrew ■ Road), in seconding the motion, pointed out '< that all the points in, connection with tJio * bill coidd not possibly ho discussed by such a large meeting. Ho would suggest ' that a committee bo appointed to do this. : Une thing he would advooato, and that was i. that the basis should bo oil the average > roll, and not on tho average attendance. It was only fair that if a man taught 10 pupils that ho should bo paid for teaching 10. That was the system in private sciiiools, and it should hold good with public schools. Miss Hooper (Forkury) pointed out that mistreeses in other districts were termed second assistants, whereas in Otogo they weiro termed third assistants. It used to be head master and head mistress. Sho" thought, the position of mistress should lie retained. Sho would like information on the subject.—Miss Hooper was asked to bring the matter up again later. Mr Davidson (Momington) suggested that the motion should bo somewhat amplified. A large' and representative meeting like this should show the Minister it's appreciation in a more emphatic way. Eo suggested that Mr Allnutt alter his motion to read "that the meeting heartily congratulates the Minister on the introduction of a till which provides for a more liberal scale of staffing and salaries." Tho scale of staffing suggested in the bill w'as much more liberal than that existing at present, and the salaries were very much more literal. Mr Allnutt agreed, and the motion was altered to read: " That, this meeting of teaehore heartily congratulates the Minister of Education on the introduction of a bill whioli provides for a more liberal scalo of staffing and salaries, and urges members of Parliament to givo support to the measure." It was pointed out that members of Parliament could be asked to support such proposals as the institute might -have to make in regard to the bill, and, after further discussion, the clause asking members to givo support to tho measure, was' deleted. The motion was then put, and carried una.n imously. Mr Ailmitt said ho thought it would be bettor if the meeting seriously discussed tho question of whether they advocated the average attendance or the average Toll. That seemed to be the point in connection with the bill. Mr Ivwinie (Albanv Street) said he thought, thoy had better leave that point alone. They had no precedent for it. If tbay were going to fight for it they should fight for it_ through the institute. They wotdd only impede the passage of the bill. There was a very good thing being put before them now, and lie thought it was not enly an honest attempt but a generous at tempt. That it was not- perfect lie could 6ee through the newspapers, but he thought the Minister was doing a thing with a- view of benefiting everybody, and if he had not done so, lie (Mr Rennie) believed any inequalities would be remedied. He hoped the meeting would not go into this matter of the average weekly roll at all. Mr Hilgendorf (Waitati) expressed tho opinion that the matter of the average roll was a very important one, and tile institute had decided that, tho teachers were in favour of the average roll over the average attendance. He moved—"That this institute desires the Minister of Education to substitute the average roll for tho average attendance as a basis for tlio grading of. schools." He contended that the leaehor who had a roll of, say, 100 scholars, with an average attendance of 90; reaJly taught the 100. Ho was responsible for tho education of that number, and it was, in fact, the irregular attendants who gave him the most trouble. Tho teacher should not be made responsible for the attendance of pttpils, nor should ho bo penalised for poor attendance. Mr Pope (St. Glair) seconded the motion Thu average daily attendance was an uufair basis for tho staffing of schools. As to the payment of teachers, ho thought it should be entirely independent of the number of children taught. ■ Mr Hilgendorf said tho average attendance was affected by bad weather, and the average roll was not. Tho avorngo ' attendance was also affected by ordinary sickness, but it, would not. affect the aver- ; age roll in any way. The teacher was with the average roll penalised by bad weather or sickness. Ho thought they had an act which should be put into force. They had a Schools Attendance Act which - compelled 80 per cent, of an attendance, and that, be thought, should be the basis of payment. 'Die MinisloT ?aid tliey in < the country should try In keep up the ' attendance. :ind fo they did. Mr Mathews (Morninglon) snid the tea- ' eher who took any interest in the attendance of the children could always get an 1 average of 97 or 99 per cent.—(Members. I "No, no.'') If hnd been proved in Morninglon. i Mr Davidson said he thought they were ' losing valuable time, They were offered I something very good indeed, and why did < they not take ii ? Let them take it, and if ' in tho future the question of the average ' roll required to be considered, they could ' consider it; but let them at tho present i juncture give all their cnnivries to the ":u«s- ' age of the bill through Parliament. There ► were details thev did not approve of. but ' lot them coiHrvalnhito the Minister uron In-- " allenipl to wrestle with lliis (iiiention, ninl deal with the details later. Let thein leave 1

. the question of the averago out allopofhor. Ho went on to refer to the liberality of the' scale, pointing out that, for a class of 26 to 35 the salary was £200 per annum. The duty of the meeting was plain: let, them go for this Rood thing—lei. them secure it, and secure it. as speedily as possible, for lie believed if Ihey failed to get this n casure through Parliament this session it, might ho many a long day before . they had such another opportunity. They j. were on the eve of a. eenernl election, and [ they all knew what that meant. Now was 3 the time to get, this more liberal staffing . and scale of (salaries. 'J'hey were losing j valuable time in discussing something they j could not get in tho meantime. Ho j doubted if they would ever get it. They . should aim at seeing the minimum a. feed • minimum, so that once it was secured bv > a teacher he would never have to accept less.—(" Hear, bear.") Were they going i tc jeopardise this bill on the question of r average of roll attendance? Let them dis- " cuss tho scale and the staff, and any weak - points there might he. One weak point ' in tho bill was with regard to schools of ' from 121 to 160. 1 At this point the spejiker was ruled out I 1 of order, as he was not keeping to the 1 motion. | Mr Flamank (Sawyers' Bay) could not agree with what Mr Davidson had said. ' The scalo on an average attendance was . an iniquitous thing that had stood far too long, and tho various institute? had for long protested against it. He did not eonaider the avorage roll to be a fair basis , either, though it was better than payment | on average ettondanoo.—(Applause.) There , were floods and weather lo bo considered, ; Ihe work they had lo do was to teach , the children on tho roll. They must do i something at this meeting to ensure that , the teachers' salaries did not go back, and ! to endeavour lo stop the continual fluctuai tion. ! Mr Maedonald said that when every bill ■ liad been brought up for the benefit of the ■ tpachers they had been told that, by proposing amendments they were jeopardising ; the bill. Ho wished to point out that j people with backbone in them were more 1 likely to get what they wanted than people without. What was it that did so much harm to a teacher? Why, the average 1 attendance. They should, then, stand lo the principle of the average roll, and in this wav tlicv would lia.ve the press, the citizens, and tho members of Parliament behind them. Mr Davi-isoii rose to explain that he had raoant to convey that it did not matter so long as they had a fixed minimum. The motion was" lost by 25 votes to 17. Mr Jeffery pointed out that the Otago Educational Institute, tho New Zealand Educational Institute, and the Dunedin and Suburban School Committees' Association had all pronounced in favour of the avorage roll rather than average attendance being a basis for grading. B,y rejecting tho resolution the meeting had made a mistake, and gone back on its allies. Mr G. C. Baker (scorctary of tho Dunedin and Suburban School Committees' Association) said that the position was that tho Otago members of Parliament were Jlow working hard to secure the roll attendance as a basis, and they had procured the co-operation of Nelson, Auckland, and South Canterbury members. A suggestion was made that in viow of this the motion should bo rescinded, but tho Chairman ruled that the vote taken in no way stultified tho institutes in their udvocdoy of the principle of grading on tho basis of roll attendance. Mr Davidson moved-" That tho attention of tho Minister be drawn to the inadequate stalling proposed to be allotted to schools in Grade 6a." In schools of from 36 to i 80 one assistant was to be provided. In I schools frOm 81 to 120, two assistants; and in schools from 121 to 160 still only two . assistants. He did not see why the sym- < metry of tho scheme should bo broken < here. , The Chairman said Mr .leifery had ex- ( plained this before Mr Davidson's arrival. ; Mr Davidson said ho thought, nevertheless, that it should bo pointed out to tho 1 Minister. . ; Mr Eudey (Forlmry) seconded the motion, 1 which was carried unanimously Mr Hilgendorf moved—"That the Minister bo asked lo make the annual increments to salaries £10, instead of £5" j Tcaeliers. he said, should uot be worse oPF i than members of other branches of the .* public service. The motion lapsed for want ' of a seconder. ( Miss Hooper moved-" That the position « of mistresses bo more clearly defined "1 throughout tho Dominion, and that they ( should have threefold classification." Miss t Hooper wont on to say thai if the posi- 1 tion of mistresses was put in the second 1 column the difficulty might lx> overcome c Ihey desired to thank the .Minister for his motivo of " upjiftment." She would point out, however, that some Education Boards rated their female teachers higher tluui 1 others. She did not see why Otago should 1 think less of its women than other provinces. Miss Little sccondod the motion. Mr Dayidson said he thought Miss Hooper was making a mistake in advocating threefold classification. It would be a simple matter to classify the positions of male and female teachers separately. Mr Allnutt expressed the opiuion that tins was «a very wise suggestion. Miss Hooper: It is the want of uniformity we objeot to. Mr Davidson: My proposal will do awav With all friction. Miss Hooper: I would like to know if the female teachers are going to be classed as second or third assistants? Mr Davidson: If the positions wore defined clearly it would bo a case of first male assistant, second male assistant, and. so on, and then salaries fixed accordingly. Mies I-looper explained that the women at the top of the profession should not receive Jess than second teachers. The substitution of the word " mistress" for " teacher" might meet the case. . _Miss Hooper withdrew her motion, and Mr Davidson then moved—" That tho Minister be asked to classify sepa-rately tho positions held by male ana female assistants."—This was carried. Mr Phillips (St. Leonards) moved— "That, in the event of the grade of a school being reduced (clause 7, section 7), no teacher's salary be reduced more than F £5 per annum."—This was seconded by I Mr Ronnie (Albany street). Mr Mathews moved as an amendment— "That this meeting is against any reduction whatever." Mr Hilgendorf seconded this, and asked: " Do they go back in any other branch of the public sorvico?" A Voice from the back: No. They are shifted. The Chairman moved as a further amendment—" Tliat the executive of the' New Zealand Educational Institute be j recommended to urge the Minister of § Education to modify clause 7. section 7, I of the Education Act Amendment Dili i now before Parliament so as to secure j from reduction the salary of anv teacher whose school is reduced in grade until such teacher has had an - opportunity of applying for a.nd receiving transfer to a, higher or an equivalent position." Mr Mathews withdrawing his amendment, socoiuled this, which was carried unanimously. Mr Phillips moved that, in the event of tho grade of a school being reduced, no teacher's salary be reduced more than £5 per annum. Mr Mstcdotuld suggested that Mr Phillips should propose that (here should be no reduction at all. I Mr Phillips-Raid the objection was that ' teachers would have to accept any transfer that might, be ottered iliem iu the same grade they had previously held. Mr Eudey pointed out that members were leaving. <uul tluit section 12, dealing with tho appointment and promotion ol teachers, was one of the most, important, sections in the bill, and had not yet been referred 10. On the motion of Mr Hilgendorf, seconded by Mr I'ope, it was resolved— " Tha.t the Minister of IMuoation be asked lo make jinivision to that teachers with 20 years sew ice whose salaries are less than £200 a year, and teachers with 15 years' service wliwe salaries are less than £160, shall receive the maximum salary of their grade from Ist January, 1909." Mr Hilgendorf minted out that'in other branches of the civil service there was an annual increment, and a man might getthis oven if ho did not got a higher grade. A suggestion was made that a mixed committee be set up to fro into the provisions of the hill. Mr Eudey asked if the lnslitule would be bound by the result. Mi' Baker said tho proposal was merely to send in recommendations to the institute. It Was then resolved, on the motion of Mr Jefl'crv, to set up a commiteo to consider the bill in dol-ail and report to the institute, suoh committee to consist of two members of the institute (Messrs Carrington and Davidson) and the secretary, two members of the Dunodin and Suburban School Committees' Association and the secretary, two members of the ' Otjigo Kdiiea!ion Hoard, and two repre- \ sentatives of the wonmn teachers (Mi«s f Hooper and Mi-- I.ill!-'). |