UNEMPLOYED TEACHERS.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19180, 10 December 1927, Page 17

UNEMPLOYED TEACHERS.

STATEMENT BY DIRECTOR FOR EDUCATION. ,

[THE PBESS Special Service.]

WELLINGTON, De6ember 9

"A lot of the talk of unemployment among teachers," said the Director for Education (Mr T. B. Strong) at,. the break-up ceremony at the VVellin<gton Training College to-day, "has been grossly exaggerated. Wo do find fault with those who grumble about unemployment when they refuse positions in the country that are offered to them. At the beginning of the year a little unemployment among teachers must be expected. It is acknowledged that it is desirable to place all in some position as soon as they leave the College, but .tiiis cannot be done on acceunt of the present financial situation. Some must expect to be unable to find employment right at the commencement of the year." Mr Strong said that when the reduction in the size of the larger classes w.as contemplated there were no signs of a slump and Sir James Parr had seen that the only way to reduce the larger classes was by having more teachers. Unfortunately, when t/he larger number of teachers were ready to come out of the Training College a wavo of depression had reached the Dominion and the Department was unable to carry out its. building programme to allow of the reduction in the numbers in classes. The present Minister for Education was fully seized with the position. There were other .-easons for the unemployment among teachers of administrative interest to Boards. The Department now took full responsibility for the teachers and was endeavouring to make sure, that in future there were only sufficient trained to fulfil the needs. The Department took charge by legislative authoritv in 1936 and the effect of this will not'be felt until 1929.