EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17825, 6 January 1920, Page 3

EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE

ANNUAL OONI®RKNiCE. • GRADING OF TEACHERS. (Pes United Pbesß Association.) WELLINGTON, January 5. At tie annual conference of tho New Zoaland Educational Institute Miss Butler, Messrs Wells, Tibte, M'lnnes, Munro, and Land were appointed to consider some modification t>f or substitution for the system of profioiency certiiioates, as a test of promotion to secondary oduoation, tho co-ordina-tion of curricula in primary and secondary schools, and tho continued education of country children. Dr Eleanor Bakor, Miss Chapman, Professor Piifiht, Messrs Purchase, Penlington, and Aschman were appointed to report on retardation and backwardness in primary schools. One delegate said that not 50 per cent, of tho children who passed tho First Standard reached the Sixth. Standard. Ai resolution was passed that tho space allotment and grading of a school should bo based not on the average attendance, but on the average roll. Tho committee set up to report upon remits having reference to grading placed before the conference a series of resolutions dsigned to provido a basis of discussion. At the conclusion of the disoussion the conference passed the following resolutions:— A teaohor's grading should depend upon (1) Efficiency, in tho assessment of which the following factors should bo taken into consideration:—(a) Teaching ability, (b) personality and discipline, (o) organisation and management, (d) school environment; ('<?. £cademio attainments and threo years of efficient service. "The quota system is inequitabb along aa deserving teachers sre debarred from opportunities of proving thedr effioiency in higher jxwitions, and thereby improving their status." The prosont system of allotting efficiency marks under spcoial definite headings should bo retained, and teachers should be _ considered eligible for 15 mariks "for organisation and management." To enable teachers to mako a proper oomparison of the grading of teachers in different education districts, tho quota maris and service marks of all teaohera should be in the graded list, "as no system of promotion, based on the grading scheme 'with its present anomalies, will ever gain tha confidence of the teachers of New Zealand This institute is strongly of opinion that immediate steps should bo taken to establish uniformity of appraisement in grading as between district and district." The institute therefore welcomes the assurance of the Assistant Director of Education that a conference of senior inspectors is to be held forthwith, but is of opinion that all grading officers should bo oalled to that conference. The conference endorsed tho sentiment expressed in the final words of the committee's report, which were aa follows: 'Tour committee think-? the institute should place it on record that it is still unanimously in favour of a grading and promotion scheme, equitably applicable to the'whole dominion, and that in making theso recommendation? it is actuated solely by a desire to improve the present scheme by removal of some faults revealed,' ad they only could be revealed by experience "