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Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 16895, 17 November 1920, Page 2

A Dominion grading scheme for teachers has now been established and promotions are to be made in accordance with position on the grading list, except in special circumstances. As in other branches of the public service at entry it will'be possible for the young teacher to see his life work as it will be far ahead. Promotion and higher salaries will come gradually as those in the upper ranks of the service retire or die. ‘With average attention to work a man may get a good headmastership when nearing 60. Such a system, though perhaps necessary to give everyone as nearly as possible an equal chance, will not tend to produce progress. It is the young am? energetic man full of now ideas who effects changes, not the man over 60 whose views have become stereotyped. Dr. Arnold, of Rugby, the great English headmaster, who did more than anyone else to transform the whole ideals of English public schools, was appointed to his post when 33 years of age and died at *l7. Under the grading system his abilities would never have been realised. Cecil Rhodes did all his great work and died'at s*l; in the public service ho would have boon no more than a rather troublesome ‘junior. But the grading system is here and will probably ba extended. Babies must obviously be graded from birth so that their possibilities may be recognised and developed. Children will be graded so as to receive the most suitable training at school. The .man who wishes to marry will apply to the proper office* and obtain a list of girls carefully arranged according to a scheme which will allot marks for good looks, domestic experience and so forth, and will be restricted in his choice according to his own position on the men’s list. Life will be dull, except perhaps for those who have to grade babies, which will bo a task reserved for spinsters with great strength of character, hut the inefficient will rejoice that they can secure better positions by merely continuing to exist.