GRADING OF TEACHERS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20334, 16 February 1928, Page 3

GRADING OF TEACHERS.

INJUSTICE OF PARTIAL REVISION. COMPLETE LISTS ADVOCATED. DISCUSSION BY EDUCATION BOARD. Tho injustice done to certain teachers because of the present system of grading at the close of the training period was discussed at yesterday’s meeting of the Otago Education Board. A motion was carried advocating that the list’ remain in operation until a complete revision was available. The question was introduced by the following motion, moved by Mr James Mitchell: That in tho opinion of this board the early issue of a partial revision of the grading list is calculated to cause injustice to be done to a large number of teachers, inasmuch as their earned advance in the scale is practically deferred for three months after that of a section has become operative. The board therefore suggests that the complete list should remain in operation until the complete revision is made available, with the addition of such new entrants thereto as may accrue in tho interval. Mr Mitchell said he was not enamoured of the present grading system, but it was the duty of the board to see that the system, while it existed, was administered in a just manner. In some instances teachers had been promoted over other teachers who were still awaiting publication of their grading. The only way to remedy this was to make the existing list current until a complete revision was made. Mr D. T. Fleming seconded the motion. Mr J. H. Wilkinson said he thought that good results would follow a discussion of the matter by the education boards in conference. They should endeavour to consider the interests of all teachers. After stating that, in his opinion, the public should lie informed of what was going on. the Chairman (Mr J. Wallace) explained that all probationary assistants wore graded at December 31. They had been provisionally graded when they left college the year before, but the new grading was given to them, and in their applications for positions they used this new grading. This put them one or two marks ahead of teachers graded in April last year, whose new grading was not due until April of the present year. This was manifestly unfair, and when the hoard had approached the department it had been informed that it was entitled to consider only the first grading of such teachers —that was, their grading when they left college. He understood, however. that another board was making appointments on the new grading of such teachers. When the teachers left college they were given provisional grading, but this could be used only among themselves and not in competition with graded teachers. Air Mitchell said that a simultaneous grading of all teachers was necessary. The Senior Inspector (Air F. G. A. Stuckey) said that teachers were being graded all through the year. If a teacher’s two years’ course finished in Alay he was entitled to a certificate, and as this could not be held over he had to be graded. The Chairman said that the board was really dealing with tho question of probationary assistants whose grading should not bo altered until April when the whole list was issued. The motion was carried, and it was resolved that a copy be sent to the Education Department.