GRADING TEACHERS.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 14152, 1 August 1916, Page 3

GRADING TEACHERS.

NEW SCHEME EXPLAINED

At a- fully attended meeting of the Wellinkton District Institute of Teachers (says the "Dominion") Mr J. Caughley, Assistant Director of Education, delivered an address on some of tlie special features of the new grading list. He explained that his idea was to give teachers a clearer .understanding as to their relative positions on the list and also to receive suggestions in regard to future alterations in the new scheme.

Mr J. Costin Webb presided, and said that the Minister of Education should be specially thanked for allowing Mr Caughley' to explain the scheme to the teachers.

In his opening remarks, Mr Caughley said that there had nob been-the slightest difficulty in obtaining the permission of the Minister, or-the Director of Education (Dr. Anderson), for him to deliver the address, because it was intended that all the teachers/should be met personally, and then the resulting discussion would no doubt point out weaknesses in the scheme. Hasty judgments bad been ma do by teachers, and thi3 was the cause of certain misunderstandings. About 3500 teachers Mad been graded in New Zealand, and it would have been almost a miracle if every one of those teachers had been satisfied. It wfas known that the scheme was not perfect yet in every detail, tait certain principles must be placed to the credit of it. Anomalies had existed before the scheme was issued, and the classified list had been responsible for pointing these out. Previous to the newgrading scheme coming into force classifications and other matters in that connection had been done in a haphazard way. Now ali . this had been dono away with*. The grading of teachers was not the only thing" which was being accomplished under the new system. Other data in connection with ; various centres was being obtained. Mr Caughley went on to explain ir. detail the system under which teachers had been graded./ By adopting the "group system" it was found that it I would be much more satisfactory than the old style of grading. He maintained that many anomalies which had occurred in the past would be eradicated. Under the present system, teachers would be in a much better position financially and otherwise.

In conclusion the s]>eaker said that the regulations did not allow the exposure of marks, and it was not intended that detailed marks should be given. Touching on tho questior. of appeal, he said that the proper ground of appeal was that one teacher should be placed on an equality with another. At present^ no regulations could be" framed governing appeals, because tliG Department did not know in what form the appeals would be brought forward. As soon as all the appeals are received a form of appeal will 'be brought forward and "ianßounced later. Blunders had been made in grading lists in the past, and now the Department was in a position to know of these mistakes. Any suggestions made by teachers would be welcomed by the Department, an 3it was only by ibese means that the scheme could be perfected. Finally Mr Caughley suggested..that teachers should appoint a small committee from their number and go iully into the whole matter of complaints, etv This committee, which should consist of unbiased person*,, . could then oive their judgment on the working ot the new "scheme to the Department.