ART TEACHER’S STATUS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17029, 1 May 1923, Page 7

ART TEACHER’S STATUS.

GROUNDS OF MISS MOULDEY’S APPEAL. “ This case gives little encouragement to New Zealanders to tseeK. to widen their experience by art svudy and teaching in England,” said Miss Eva R. Mouldey, of the Christchurch School of Art, in the course of an interview this morning with reference to the refusal of the Teachers’ Appeal Board to allow her appeal against, being placed in the non-profeasional or second grade of art teachers. Miss Moudey said that the chief ground of her appeal was that her qualifications as a teacher had been recognised in England, and the London County Council had placed her on the graduate scale w’hich is equivalent to the first grade in New Zealand. \et these qualifications had not been recognised by the New Zealand Education Department, which had placed her in the second grade at a salary almost half of that which she received in England for similar work. Miss Mouldey said that if she had taken the British Arts Diploma she would have been placed on the first grade in New Zealand, but for private reasons she had been unable to take this course. However, she had done the next best thing by adding to her experience by teaching and study in different art schools in England. How ever, this added experience had not been recognised by the New Zealand authorities though it had been recognised in England. Miss Mouldey pointed out that there was no Arts Diploma course provided for in New Zealand. The Appeal Board had stated that although refusing her appeal, it had decided to make recommendations to the Director of Education which would overcome the difficulty indicated by her by instituting an examination, and also widening the power of the Minister of Education so as to permit of an increased salary to members of the non-professional division in special cases where their qualifications justify such an increment. Commenting on this Miss Mouldey said that she did not consider it applied to her case. In conclusion Miss Mouldey said that the salary she was receiving from the Department now was actually less than she was receiving in New Zealand three years ago before going Home to study and thus adding to her experience.