STATEMENT RESENTED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23806, 12 May 1939, Page 6

STATEMENT RESENTED

STANDARDS OF WORK TECHNICAL AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS PROTEST TO BE MADE f Special to Daily Times) WELLINGTON, May 11. The standard of the work done by the technical colleges to prepare students for the higher grades of industry was much more advanced than that found in any grammar school or secondary institution, said Mr L. E. Titheridge (Auckland) when reporting to the New Zealand Technical School Teachers’ Association Conference to-day on suggested developments in the control of technical schools. Mr Titheridgef had referred to instruction in electrical and mechanical engineering and other commercial subjects in which specialised teaching was undertaken, and remarked that he would stand by that statement in his report in spite of the reported remarks of the president of the New Zealand Secondary School Assistants’ Association (Mr H. A Heron, of Wellington). Mr Heron’s remarks referred to the removal of the C grade salary bar in technical and combined schools and not in secondary schools. This meant, he said, that secondary school teachers- could reach a maximum salary £BS lower than that of equally efficient teachers in technical schools, in spite of the fact that the academic qualifications of secondary teachers were on the average much higher than those of technical teachers and that the standard of work reached in a secondary school was considerably higher than that reached in a purely technical school. It was to the second part of this statement that exception was taken. Misunderstanding Suggested Mr W. M. Stewart (Greymouth) advised the delegates not to be greatly upset by what Mr Heron had said. He had probably meant that secondary school teachers were more advanced in their own special lines than technical teachers were in those subjects. The same could be said of technical teachers, and it would be a pity if that were not the position. The president (Mr G. W. C. Drake) said he considered that some exception should be taken to Mr Heron’s comment. There was nothing wrong with the first part of the statement, and technical teachers could make a similar comparison if there was any object in doing so, but they should not allow the claim that the standard of work in secondary schools was higher than in technical schools to pass without comment, because the standard reached in some directions was much higher in technical schools than in other secondary schools. Technical school teachers had to conduct classes well beyond the matriculation stage. Engineering and accountancy were examples, as in those subjects the work done was of university standard. For years technical education had been struggling for recognition, and had secured it by reason of the standard of work that had been achieved, said Mr Drake, who suggested asking the Secondary School Assistants’ Association to retract the statement made by Mr Heron. “ Should Be Ignored ” Mr A. N. Larkman said he considered that the technical teachers could afford to ignore the matter. They could ignore it as individuals, Mr Drake replied, but as an association he thought they should do something about it. “ We know the statement is incorrect,” said Miss A. E. Anderson (Petone), “but we are inclined to overlook the fact that proper recognition of technical school teachers is still not general. I have heard it said that technical school teachers do work of a very low standard.” Mr H. M. Scott (Palmerston North) said that while they could not agree with Mr Heron’s statement, he thought they should ignore it. They knew that certain branches of their work were much in advance of similar work in other secondary schools. As a teacher with experience in both academic and technical schools, he could say he had gained a better realisation of the value of mathematics through nis work as a technical school instructor than as a secondary school teacher. Protest Decided On After other delegates had expressed opinions for and against making a protest, Mr Larkman said they all wanted to see the different branches of the teaching profession brought closer together, and he did not think a protest would help in that direction He moved—“ That, with the object of furthering the friendly relations between the associations, the reported statement should be ignored.” This was seconded by Mr A. G. Simmers (Invercargill). A division was called for. and the motion was defeated by 43 votes to 28. , It was then agreed that a protest should be made against the statement concerning the standards of work, and that the Secondary School Assistants’ Association should be informed that the Technical School Teachers’ Association was in support of any action that could be taken to give secondary school teachers an equal opportunity on the salary scale.