THE DE GRADING OF TEACHERS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21022, 10 May 1930, Page 17

THE DE GRADING OF TEACHERS.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — I do not wish to join issues with Mr A. E, Lawrence on the grading sys* tern, as Mr Lawrence obviously has his own opinions, which do not coincide with those of the Otago teachers, nor with thosr of the Otago Educational Institute. This body, as I read it, does not attack the grading system as a whole, but attacks only the de-grading of teachers, for other reasons than for definite inefficiency. It makes no statements which are not backed up by the most complete statistics. What I do wish to take exception to, is the phrase attributed to Mr Lawrence—“the mock heroics of a rather too hurriedly prepared pronouncement, etc.” The statement, as every Dunedin teacher knows, was prepared as the result of many, many hours’ work by a great number of teachers, and was issued from the Management Committee, which is composed of men and women who have been placed where they are by reason of reputations for sound and sane—some of ug think even “ conservative ” —ideas on education and teachers’ problems. The statement, then, is the result of many hours’ work by many teachers, Mr Lawrence obviously had less than. 24 hours in which to weigh that statement which he labels a "rather too hurriedly prepared pronouncement.”—l am, etc., • Nufp Seu.