Early Cultural Writings
CONTENTS
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Opinions Written as Acting Principal, Baroda College
1905
Resolving a Problem of Seniority in the High School
College Office Baroda 3rd. May 05.
Mr Nag was appointed in the Baroda High School by His High. ness the Maharaja Sahib but being on leave has not yet joined his appointment. I believe that His Highness the Maharaja Sahib while reserving to himself the full right to make appointments on other weighty grounds, is always willing to give the utmost consideration to the claims of seniority of old and deserving servants. Moreover the position and prospects of Mr Nag if . he is to enter the Educational Service permanently need clearer definition. In forwarding this application, 1 therefore, I take the opportunity to state fully my opinion on the matter.The course suggested by the teachers to meet the difficulties of the case is of course quite impracticable. Mr Nag is a graduate . of the Cambridge University and has spent many years in Europe at great expense in order to acquire higher qualifications and a wider culture and experience, and to expect that he would be willing or ought to be asked to serve on Rs 65 in the last place of a Bombay graduate in this Department and with the prospects of a teacher of the second grade in the High School is to lose all sense of proportion. The precedent of Mr. Manishanker Bhat does not apply to such a case. Mr Nag has accepted Rs 150 the lowest pay at present possible to a man of his qualifications with corresponding prospects and it is not possible to cut him down now from Rs 150 to Rs 65 with practically no prospects at all.
1 A printed representation by the graduate teachers in the second grade of the Baroda High School, requesting "that the claims of senior men may not be passed over while making appointments in the higher grade". -Ed. Page – 745 Even apart from this the expedient of turning part of the regular salary into personal pay is one which in my opinion ought not to be too freely used, as it tends to turn transference from one Department to another into an unmerited punishment. On the other hand there are strong grounds for the rest of the representation; the work of the High School staff has been admirable and judged by examination results compares well with any other school in the Bombay Presidency, while the prospects are very poor and limited, and the introduction of a well paid outsider stops promotion far more effectually than can be the case in larger and more highly paid Departments. Under these circumstances I suggest as the course which will as far as possible meet both sides of the question that Mr . Nag may be employed in the High School in a special grade like the Head Master and Mr Dorabji Patel, and the rise in . grade opened up by the appointment of Mr Chunilal may be Mr Naravane although he will continue to work in granted to M . the sixth standard. This would introduce the least disturbance in the chances of the High School staff and at the same time make it more convenient for His Highness to utilise Mr Nag's services in . any way in future either in this Department or elsewhere without any disturbance to the regular grades of the English Schools.
ARAVIND. A. GHOSE Ag. Principal Baroda College Page – 746 On a Proposed Examination for Teachers
College Office. Baroda, 9th August 1905.
To The Minister of Education B A R O D A.
Sir, With reference to your letter No. 2047 dated the 28th May 1905 I have the honour to forward herewith my opinion regarding the rules for the Secondary Teachers' Certificate Examinations which it is intended to be introduced in our Raj.
I have the honour to be Sir Your Most Obedient Servant AAG Ag. Principal, Baroda College.
O P I N I O N.
I have gone very carefully through the scheme of the proposed examination for teachers and beg to give expression to the following opinions, which have been formed after very long and careful consideration.
2. I do not quite see the object of introducing this severe and stringent examination into our State. Our schools are working quite well enough on the whole for the purposes of education Page – 747 as given in this country. I do not myself think very highly either of the principles or methods or results of that education but, being subject to the Bombay University, we have to take things as they are and cannot attempt anything ideal. Whatever defects still exist are inseparable from the low pay and qualifications required in the lower rank of teachers. In certain respects they may be modified by a mild test; but the sort of examination here proposed is such as might be prescribed in an European country where the science and art of education are really advanced. Here it is likely to degenerate into a formality harassing to the teachers but useless to the State. We simply have not got sufficient foothold from which to make a leap like this. Undoubtedly the teachers will cram up the subjects learning by rote as is the habit in this country and a percentage of them will pass, but there it will end; a few of the brighter and smarter young men may understand and make the attempt to apply the principles they learn, but that will be all. If the University with its new constitution succeeds in giving a better basis for culture, then after a few years we might see what can be done; or we may watch the results of our training College and gradually apply an adequate test.
3. If it is thought necessary to have a departmental examination now I should suggest the following alterations. Rule 8. Whatever examination is held, should be formal and conducted by more than one person. This rule, making the promotion or dismissal of State servants depend on an informal oral examination by the Minister of Education, seems [to] me contrary to the principles which should govern these tests. The test under such circumstances might very easily be applied with great haste, injustice or partiality. The fact that the present Minister of Education is above suspicion in these respects does not guarantee the future. The opinion of a Committee of 3 members would alone ensure a reasonable security to the teachers. I would suggest that at least one of them should be a Professor of the College. Page – 748 Rule 9. 50 per cent is too high a percentage in a test of this kind. 33 per cent, the University standard, should be adopted, especially if removal is to be the penalty of failure. Rule 10. This rule is Draconically harsh. Removal ought on no account to be made the penalty of a Departmental Examination; the ordinary principle that the passing of the Examination will count in promotion is quite sufficient.
4. As to the subjects of the examination, I would make it a far slighter affair than this up-to-date American machine would be.
Junior Examination.
Part II. Instead of this elaborate affair, it will be enough to see whether the teacher can make the boys understand the lesson, explain a subject correctly and command their attention. That is as much as we can ask of our teachers at present. Only head (c) should be rather carefully attended to especially with regard to the English Language. Head (d) should be dropped altogether; discipline especially is a matter for the Head Master to testify; it is impossible for the examiners to test it, since the boys would be on their best behaviour on such an occasion, -unless they were like English boys and the teacher unpopular, when they would be on their worst.
Senior Examination.
Part I. Let (3) Psychology be dropped and if (2) must be kept, let it be as simple an affair as possible -a fair general knowledge of the main developments and their principles being alone required. Part II. The same remarks apply as to the Junior Examination, in the case of graduates the same care about language is not necessary; it is the undergraduates who are occasionally deficient, at least in English. Page – 749 I am not in favour of introducing the Honours Course just now. Let our Training College succeed first, and the general practical capacity of our teachers be set on a sure basis. We may go in for educational luxuries afterwards.
ARAVIND A. GHOSE Ag. Principal, Baroda College Page – 750 On a Head Assistant for the High School
Concise History
The Baroda High School has for some time been increasing in numbers, until now it has reached the very large number of 750. It is high
2 Mr G. M. Hasabnis wishes that an additional Teacher should . be appointed, as he finds great difficulty in arranging for the classes
Page – 751 3 The discipline of the School is maintained as well as possible under the circumstances, but marked signs are not wanting that the task
4 To see to the proper efficiency and progress of the physical education is under the circumstances a task beyond his energies; yet this is
Page – 752 5 The one fully effective remedy would be to increase the High School staff by the appointment of an Assistant Head Master. This
6 Having consideration however to the many calls on the State and the financial position, I am content to make a very modest proposal,
7 Should the proposal be sanctioned, I propose for the post Mr Dorabji M. Patel, Head Master Amreli High School (whose present
Points for decision
Page – 753 Rs 160/ to Rs 200/ for the efficient management and discipline of the Baroda High School?
Opinion
(1) Yes. (2) Yes.
Baroda 15th September 1905 ARAVIND A. GHOSE Ag. Principal Baroda College
Opinion
Forwarded with the recommendation that the proposal of the Principal of the College may be sanctioned. The reason why this Tippan is sent during the absence of K. B. Dalal on leave is because it is a matter which requires early sanction of the Huzur.
Baroda 16th September 1905
ARAVIND A. GHOSE In charge Minister of Education Baroda State Baroda Page – 754 |