The Recent High School Appointment.

Southland Times, Issue 14814, 15 December 1900, Page 3

The Recent High School Appointment.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — Having delayed exercising the right, which every member of the community may claim, of criticising the actions of any board or public bodj', until a sufficient time has elapsed to show that the High School Board will not vouchsafe to give the public any more information than what appeared in the Times of the sth inst., I will now undertake this duty— for sach it is — making use of the scanty information already supplied, with some facts which have come to my knowledge. The writer of the letter signed "Inquirer" which appeared *in your columns on 6th December, did not * ask for the names of the candidates, but suggested that their testimonials *• should be published. If it is thought that this should not be done without the consent of both the givers and the receivers of the testimonials, it is nevertheless certain that a great deal more information might be given without compromising either the Board or the candidates. The 32 applications might have been numbered, andunder each number the University degree and honours, aud the classification and rank in the public school service might have been stated. It is probable that nine out of ten of the candidates belong to that service, and their status in it is one of best indexes of their fitness for the position of junior mistress. The subject may be dealt with from various standpoints, and I will endeavour to do so with as much conciseness as possible, taking up the several questions involved, as they come into mind, without professing to assign to each its relative importance. Firstly— lt may be said that the reputation and prosperity of any school or college depends mainly on the high standing and reputation of its teachers or professors. When making the appointment three years ago, the Board did recognise the importance of what I am now affirming, and thereby placed itself above criticism, and did enhance the reputation of the Southland High School. It could then boast that even its junior mistress held the degree of M.A. vHth University honours, and also a very high classification and rank in the public school service, and was also an experienced teacher. When making the recent appointment, the Board had the choice of a number of candidates'who held the M.A. degree and other qualifications similar to those of the young lady who has lately resigned, but it has passed them all oa er, and thereby has lowered instead of maintaining the high standard and reputation of its teaching staff. . Secondly — with reference to the bearing this appointment has on the character and efficiency of the teaching profession throughout the colony: the mainspring and incentive to the attainment of excellency in any calling or profession is' Hope, but when those who have so attained find that it profits them nothing, but that they who nave not so attained receive the prize, it must be a' great discouragement to those so treated to make further efforts to excel, and is likely to deter others from making any efforts at all. Unless promotion is made according" to merit no public service can attain to a high degree of proficiency. Thirdly— As a matter of justice and humanity, our Government has instituted a University, colleges and public schools and has in various ways encouraged young people to enter the teaching profession. It has made laws requiring them to undergo much painful study, and to pass severe examinations before being admitted into the service, and by its system of classification and ranking has incited them to continual study and diligence in order to obtain promotion. Their University degrees and honours and their classification and rank in the public school service, are really their property and their means of living, acquired by years of patient industry, and it> is a cruel and unjust thing for any board or governing body to confiscate this property, by ignoring their status and rank in their profession. Fourthly. — It is of the utmost importance that all members of the teaching profession should have full confidence in the wisdom and rightwusnjass of those upon whom their prospects m life depend. It is flt the best a laborious? ana ill-paid profession, and teachers in general meet with many discomforts and disappointments; but these can be endured with fortitude so long as they know that they will be justly dealt with by those upon whom their advancement in their profession depends. But if experieuce proves that this confidence has been illfounded, and that they have laboured in vain and spent their strength for naught, then the fountains of Hope will be dried up and they may sink into despair. To conclude ; What I am contending for may be condensed into the old Latin motto, " PcUmavi gui meruit feral." — I am, etc., Samuel Hodukinson. Invercargill, 10th Dec, 1900.