EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6126, 12 March 1898, Page 5

EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE.

THTS DA JL. The annual meeting of the North Canterbury branch of the New Zealand Educational Institute was continued at the Normal School at 10.30 this morning. Mr C. S. Howard (president) was m the , chair. There was a large attendance of members. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The following officers were appointed for the ensuing year : — President, Mr J. G. L. Scott; vice-presidents, Mesdames Wilkinson, Petrio and Voss ; honorary secretary, Mr C. Ball (re-elected) ; honorary treasurer, Mr F. J. Sowley ; auditor, Mr T. Hughes, vice Mr J. Speight (resigned); committee, Miss Dynes, Messrs T. S. Foster, L. Watson, W. D. Bean, — M'Cullough and J. B. Mayne. Mr Speight's resignation was received with regret, and the Secretary was instructed to convey the hearty thanks of tho branch to him for his past services. APPOINTMENT OF TEACHEES. Mr F. J. Alley said they were present to consider some of the defects of the present system. The appointment of teachers was most important, and yet their teachers were appointed by those who had the least knowledge of their subject. He asked what was the amateurish knowledge of members of a School Committee when compared with the discrimination of their own trained inspectors. He cited a case in which there had been four nominations. One of these was supposed to be a Church of England man. There was a Church of England majority on the committee, their man was appointed, and a very bad man he turned out to be. (Laughter.) No school work was harder or more exhausting to brain and muscle than the single charge of a school of forty pupils. He quoted another case in which a teacher had done his own canvassing, and had been successful in getting himself appointed above the heads of mon with ten years' more experience. These things happened because the Education Board would not take a firm stand on the matter. One man got a school because he was a Freemason the day before or the day after his appointment, another because he was a teetotaller or a member of the Progressive Liberal Association. He suggested that the Board should advertise and teachers apply as at present. The names of applicants should be submitted to the Inspectors, who should select four or five. The Board could then approve or disapprove, and notify the teachers recommended. Tho rest of the applicants could save their time and money. He moved — " The North Canterbury Educational Institute respectfully begs the Board of Education to reconsider the present method of appointment of teachers, and to devise a scheme which will minimise tho evils of canvassing and which will work more satisfactorily both in the interestlof teachers and of primary education." Mr Wilson seconded the motion. Miss Kitohingham said that the whole thing seemed to her wrong so far as canvassing was concerned. She considered it most unpleasant for teachers to have to do that sort of thing, and pointed out that the number of certificates a teacher held was often a large factor in success. She pointed out that teachers who had been in many schools and only a short time in each would hold a stronger position when judged in this way than those who worked faithfully and steadily in one direction. Mr M'Cullough thought it was most humiliating that a man who had been a teacher for years should have to canvass not only the members of School Committees, but in many cases their wives also. In his one experience of canvassing he h&d boen asked by a lady if he was " saved." He was not in favour of leaving the whole matter to the Inspectors. The men who made the appointment should be tied down to a certain vote, marks should be given for educational attainments as an encouragement to young teachers, and long service should be taken into account. At present certificates seemed to be at a discount. He would support the resolution. Mr E. B. Eyder supported the resolution. He thought that the branch should not go to the Board until they had devised some scheme of classification of teachers and schools, and that they should give the Board every assistance in matters where expert knowledge would be useful. The method of promotion in town schools was also faulty, as by it a young man with no country experience whatever might rise in a few years to the position of second master. Some provision might be made by which country teachers should have a chance in town schools, and town teachers compelled to take their turn in the country. He moved as an amendment — " That a sub-committee be appointed to formulate a working scheme, the report to come before the Institute within a fortnight and to be forwarded to the Board of Education when adopted." Mr Watson, in seconding the amendment, agreed with what Mr Eyder had said, but thought ib would bo impossible to prohibit canvassing. A great feature in the selection of teachers was the church to which the applicant belonged. One member of a committee had said to him, " The Wesleyans have had their turn, the Presbyterians have had theirs, and surely it is time for our man now." He quoted anomalies which had occurred in rocent appointments to show the want of a fixed system in the matter. Mr Eyder here nominated the executive members of the branch, Messrs Alley, Hughes and the mover. Mr Alexander, in regard to the proposal that Inspectors should mako appointments, referred to his Queensland experience of seven and a half years, during which appointments were made on length of service and merit. That could be done here, and he contended that that system was much better than the present one in use here. He agreed with previous speakers as to the ignorance of many committees in scholastic matter.. He favoured the amendment. Mr J. G. L. Scott had never seen or read of a system of appointments which would suit all applicants. He had known cases in Queensland where downright injustice had been worked through political influence. He mentioned the case of a teacher who, after dismissal.ihad gone into town, interviewed the Minister and retained his position. In Queensland, also, a man was liable .to be removed enormous distances and to unhealthy climates, with the choice of dismissal on refusal. He deprecated the formulation of a scheme, though he admitted that the present method of appointments was often highly unsatisfactory. He thought the question should be approached with caution, and predicted that a purely bureaucratic system would be just as unsatisfactory to most of them. Mr Hughes had known men who deserved promotion almost heart-broken in their efforts to obtain work. The evil of canvassing had grown much of late years, but he thought that the Institute and the Board might do much to discredit it. It seemed to him that the Otago system was somewhat arbitrary, but he believed in equality of opportunity. Long service alone as „ qualification would be worse than their present system. He thought the Board perhaps fitter to deal with this matter than the Inspectors, for whom he had great respect, but whose utterances were too apt to be regarded as oracular. He did not think merit was sufficiently considered in making appointments. Mr Kennedy supported Mr Scott's remarks. Mr Kippenberger agreed with Mr Eyder. Mr Thompson did not think it wise to adopt a fixed scheme. He thought they were better off as at present. Mr Alley asked leave to withdraw his motion, as the meeting seemed to favour the amendment. Mr J. G. L. Scott objected to the withdrawal. The Chairman said that he was not going to make a speech, but anything he might wish to say would be in the direction of discouraging the bringing of any s_t scheme before the Board of Education. Tho amendment was lost by 10 to 9 and the resolution carried on a show of hands ( Mr T, S. Foster thought it devolved on

the Executive Committee to watch this matter very closely. On the motion of Mr Alley it was decided that the Executive Committee should be empowered to collect evidence and information on the matter, and forward it to the Board. On the motion of Mr J. G. L. Scott the meeting adjourned till 10.30 a.m. on Saturday next.