NEW EDUCATION BILL.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13728, 18 August 1908, Page 5

NEW EDUCATION BILL.

SUG GESTED I M PRO VEMENTS .

THE AVERAGE ATTENDANCE SALARY.

Per Press Association. INVERCARGILL, August 17. Ou Saturday afternoon a deputation from the Southland Teachers' Institute met Mr J. A. Hanan, M.P., chairman of the Parliamentary Education Committee and discussed some aspects of the Education Amendment Bill. The > deputation assured Mr Hanan that Southland teachers cordially approved the motives oi the Bill and recognised that its introduction as law even without alteration. Avould do good to a large number of teachers. Tho Institute wished to raise no objections, but to make a few suggestions, concerning the promotion of teachers. It was . pointed out that an- assistant coming from a lower position to a higher one might possibly bo m the anomalous position of having for three years to work at a lower salary than when working as assistant at the maximum salary in the position next below. The raising of the minimum salary in a few instances would dispose of this anomaly. Answering a question regarding additional assistants, Mr Hanan explained that it would be a matter for the Board to assign the position in the case wheiv a new position was created and where a new teacher would receive a greater salary than the original member of the staff."

Referring to tho position of women teachers a member of; the deputation asked that first female assistants should bo ranked not lower than a second assistant on the staff of a school. He stated that Wellington, Canterbury, and Southland Boards appointed a first woman second assistant, but Auckland and Otago appointed her third assistant. The uniform adoption of the first plan in big schools was a.skcd >in justice to the women teachers of New Zealand. Mention was made of the main objection to the salaries scheme — that it still permitted a reduction of salary in tho case of a teacher whoso school through a reduced average, attendance had been lowered in &rade. Mr Hanan informed tho deputation that this objection had boon carefully considered by the* committee, and it was proposed to meet it by adding a clause to the effect that a teacher liable? to reduction in salary in the circumstances mentioned should continue to receive unreduced pay for two years, thus giving the Education Board an opportunity of effecting a suitable transfer.