BOARDS AND PUPIL TEACHERS

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1088, 29 March 1911, Page 11

BOARDS AND PUPIL TEACHERS

"" "" » — MORE DEFINITE CONTRACTS '' DESIRABLE. An important point in connection with the employment of pupils .teachers after the completion .of their training course, is raised" by the Principal of the Training College"(Jlr. W. Gray), in his annualreport. • "Although we are still, far frpm realising the ideal that all those who enter the ■ servico of the various boards as, pupil teachcrs should take advantage of the college course offered to them; and although the requests of the pupil teachers, and the needs of the district," he says, "are-still too often urged as valid reasons agairtst entrance to a training college, it is utt the samo ;time true that there is a more general tendency on the part ,of boards to make a course at a training college compulsory for all pupil teachers and probationers who have qualified; . In tho two largest boards it is so. and from the numbers of applicants coming . forward from tho other districts, it is evident that the boards concerned are endeavouring to secure for, their future teachers the full available " course" "o't' training. This matter should not bo left to the will and wish of the young people themselves. "A difficulty crops lip occasionally in. tho fact that students coming from tho smaller districts show a disinclination 'to return on the completion'of their course. When this happens, as it has in more than one instance, tho'board concerned naturally raises the question: AVhat advantage is it to as to send our students to Wellington? I have tried to counteract this tendency by asking each board towards the end of the year to lot me have a list of the vacancies in its district, and by endeavouring to secure applicants for these from their own or from Other students. It would be better," however, if each board kept watch over its own students,..and. made a point. of-offer-ing situations to them on the completion of their term,'. All the circumstances attending admission to and going from the •collego point to the need of a, more definite contract' between board and -pupil teacher—on the one hand'that the wholo course of training,, including tho college course, shall be undertaken and completed, and on tho other that employment shall be offered in the district to which the student belongs.-"-