SECONDARY SCHOOLS’ CONFERENCE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 18786, 21 May 1923, Page 4

SECONDARY SCHOOLS’ CONFERENCE

AN IMPORTANT PROPOSAL. CREATION OF REGISTRATION COUNCIL SUGGESTED(Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, May 18. ' A motion brought forward by MF B. Lang, of the Christchurch Boys’ High School, at the SecondarySchools’ Association Conference, wai, to the effect that the time had come j when an officially recognised repre-r tentative organisation known as thefi Secondary Registration Councili should be established, and have such’’ share in the control of the service as to enable it to maintain its dignity and influence as a learned profession and to remedy or mitigate the defects of bureaucratic administration. The time was ripe for suck a step, said Mr Lang. They all knew that doctors and lawyers controlled their own register, and it was necessary for them to have some such form of organisation to maintain the honour and dignity of their profession and deliver it from bureaucratic control. Mr F. Milner, WaJtaki High School, moved an amendment that the remit should be referred to the Council of Educational Association, pointed out that the question was a tremendous one, affecting the whole of the educational system, and. that this was the best course which they could adopt. The amendment was carried. At the Secondary Schools’ Assorja* tion Conference, the following remits were passed : That the Department should consult 1 secondary school teachers’ organisation* ’ before issuing important regulations which seriously concern teachers. That since men and women entering the profession, and new arrivals in the Dominion, have not easy accciss to the Gazette, and since the number of g< od teachers consequently lost may be considerable, and the loss of tiine to all teachers very serious, the Department be respectfully asked to reconsider ita decision to advertise vacancies only m the Gazette. That in the interest of girls’ Recon dary schools and mixed secondary schools, at least two women should* without further delay, lie appointed to act on the governing bodies of such schools. That this association protests • gainst) the threatened reduction of put time teachers’ allowance, viz., £1 jkt head | per pupil, and in particular against any such reduction as will necessitate dispensing with the services of physical training instructors in secondary, schools. That this association again protest against the Governmental view that increase in the salaries of teachers in 1920 was in any sense in the nature of a cost of living bonus. That the number of A grade teachers allotted to schools of over 300 be increased. That the staffing of secondary schools should bo on a sliding scale, thus allowing of more liberal staffing in schocla ol lower grades. That a small staff of teachers be appointed to act as relieving teachers in .secondary schools That in mixed secondary schools there be a sufficient pioportion of women teachers on the staff. That if a teacher’s efficiency be questioned, he should, on application, be told where in he fails to satisfy the grading officers. That lack of honours in M.A. degrees should not prejudice a teacher’s chances of being graded A in cases where he took the degree before the inception of the grading scheme. That the double degree B.A. B.S.C, be a sufficient academic qualification for uradc A teachers. That the Minister be asked that widows’ pensions under .<uperannnation should be substantially increased. That since salaries have been raised and larger sums are being paid into the .superannuation fund the .iruit of £3OO for a pension is now inadequate.