SECONDARY SCHOOLS

Taranaki Daily News, 25 November 1930, Page 3

SECONDARY SCHOOLS

CLASSIFYING TEACHERS. OBJECTIONS TO PROPOSAL. A number of objections made by ths principals of the five grammar schools in Auckland to the proposed new classification of teachers was endorsed by’ the Auckland Grammar School Board. The board decided to forward the objections to the director of education, whe formulated the proposals and invited comment. . . . _ . The principals of the" five schools, who considered the classification scheme at a conference,. presented ->a report stating that while they were agreed that every teacher in New Zealand, both primary and post-primary, should hold a teacher's certificate, they- were strongly-of opinion that from- the point of view of secondary schools the scheme had a number of weaknesses. Provision should bo made for giving due recognition to the positions and grades held by secondly school teachers on the secondary seiiool grading list. The subjects taken for degrees were t of great importance in.estimating the qualifications of tcach'ers for secondary school work. “It is quite an easy matter to obtain a degree, and even good honours in subjects which are useless fcr teaching purposes,” stated the report. “For example, an M.A. pass in mathematics might easily involve mqre work and would certainly be more useful than first-class honours in economics or philosophy. \Ve frequently find that applicants for grades D. C and B, for secondary work have obtained their qualifications chiefly in subjects that have- little bearing on work in a secondary school. The certificate for class C is the ordinary training college certificate, and .is much below the requirements of C grade in. the secondary ;, schools.” . In regard to the C. grade examination, it was agreed that the -first section should be compulsory, but the principals were not in accord with the compulsory nature of the second section, which was based on the assumption that all train-, ing college students were destined to teach in the primary schools. A satisfactory solution- would be to demand ten subjects, of which only those in the first section should be compulsory. The principals were strongly of the opinion that promotion as the result of producing an approved thesis would lead to grave consequences. They considered it would be more satisfactory if, the Edv.cr. ’ >n Department and the university authorities were to confer regarding the diploma of education and make it a sufficient qualification for the highest .. class. The proposed registration would not ... serve as a basis for making appointments to secondary schools._ For such positions boards should continue to insist, as in the past, that applicants should have the requisite knowledge and experience of the subjects taught in those schools. The proposed registration ' was -io guide to such qualifications. “I think that the principals’ arguments are quite sound,” remarked the chairman, Professor A. P. W. Thomas. The board then decided to forward the report to the director, stating that m the opinion of the board the objectionf to the proposals were well-founded.