ART TEACHER’S STATUS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17028, 30 April 1923, Page 8

ART TEACHER’S STATUS.

♦ CASE BEFORE APPEAL BOARD. (Special to the “ Star.”) WELLINGTON, April 28. The Teachers’ Appeal Board, sitting in Wellington, has just decided an important appeal affecting the rights of noil-professional teachers in the New Zealand technical schools to promotion to the professional division. The board comprised Air Peter Barr (Dunedin), chairman, Air R. J, Thompson (teacheis’ representative) and Dr Marsden (representative of the Education Department). The appellant. Miss Eva R. Mouldey, of the Christchurch School of Art, appealed against the refusal of the Education Department to grade her in the professional division. Air Martin (Wellington Technical College) acted as advocate for the appellant. It was contended on behalf of Miss Mouldey that her teaching experience in England, arid her considerable aggregate of attendances at various schools of art in T i«gland and in New Zealand, entitled iter to the professional grading. The decision of the Director of Education, however, had been that this experience was not equivalent to the academic standard of attainment required for classification in the professional division. In answer to this objection it was contended on behalf of the appellant that in art this attainment could rot he secured in New Zealand, and that the decision forced teachers to go outside the Dominion in order to win the required degree. Thus an impossible barrier had been presented to the promotion of non-professional teachers to the professional grade. The hoard, although refusing the appeal. decided to mqke recommendations to the Director of Education which would overcome the difficulty indicated b;- the appellant by instituting an examination. and also widening the power of the Minister of Education so as to permit, of an increased salary to member* of the non-professional division in special where their qualifications