APPOINTMENT OF TEACHERS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20764, 9 July 1929, Page 13

APPOINTMENT OF TEACHERS.

TO THE EDITOB, Sin,—Your correspondent "Secondary", wisely ventilates annoyance over the working of the grading scheme among secondary teachers. I partly agree with him. But nothing he has. said destroys the force of my statement that secondary school boards act towards the teachers in a. dignified manner. It would be well if the Otago Education Board took a lesson in courtesy from the secondary school boards. That should be easy. The Education Board has representatives on the High School Board, and these representatives should surely carry to their own board the lessons they learn. These representatives of' the board are lost among bigger men ,on the secondary boards and do not get figuring as petty tyrants.- The same applies to the University Council Pm-pricking, petty fault-finding, espionage, and an exasperating patronising attitude do not mark the actions of these other governing bodies. Then why should it be habitual with lesser men? We do not know one-tenth of the criticism of teachers that goes on by this board of men entrenched in power for years because no, one else bothers to f\& "Si ¥ of Education (Mr R A. Wright) knew and would gladly have swept the whole antiquated system into oblivion. But, Sir, echoes of criticism are getting out. The Heriot case is a lifting of the curtain to let us see and hear what is proceeding within the Cabal. I hold that the teachers referred to as unsatisfactory have been publicly branded, and if I was one of them I would take action that might surprise the board. There is no privilege granted to any board publicly to disparage a teacher's professional career. There is an imperative, call to the Teachers' Institute to take this case up and deal with it. I certainly am forwaring the facts to the department and

r,,. Le f me back to Secondary’s” letter. ihe boards which promote in the manner referred to are just doing what I saytreating; a deserving teacher with recogni- , on antl consideration. The system may be wrong, but the board is going on the expert advice of the rector and acting out of consideration for teachers who have served the well and faithfully, secondary must re-read my letter I to , a n open insult to teachers. I confidently ask Secondary ”to produce a report of a secondary board where arabouflTea U ohe 1 if lfied used

« ] v Y°? Id i lke , ,f a y a word or two to Ex-Sole Teacher.” The closing parair f US - s T t( i nce is caustic in its nit. He reminded me of Dean Swift Y- b ® n i°, sa . ys ’ “The board is in the position of being a servant also.” Let him tell the chairman that and listen to th£

There came to England a Scotch dynasty of Stuarts which imported the Tnmef 6 ! °* th %" divine ri * ht " 5 kinS m fL ru™ ,to .«P°nent. It survived tin the Glorious Revolution of 1689 In bermany it survived til] 1918, when a aivine y-appomted Kaiser fled after wrecking his country. It still survives in the Otago Education ™« d * % U i does , so thro «K h the sup ne apathy of the rank and file of our people to what is going on. And, Sir, it wiH Bur! vive until the whole system of control as at present practised is brought .tumbliS about the ears of those who 1 " are abus nf their powers.—l am, etc., """siug Bonnie Plat.