TEACHERS AND THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 260, 22 July 1918, Page 6

TEACHERS AND THE WAR

0 SERIOUS CRISIS THREATENS THE SCHOOLS. By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, July 20. The question of the exemption of school teachers from service was mentioned by a deputation of assistant teachers whicli waited upon Mr. Hanan (Minister of Education) last evening. Mr. Hanan said he had been asked to bring about certain reforms, but 110 would be rendered powerless if the shortago of efficient teachers was continued, and rendered even more acute. Close association with teachers had satisfied liini that there was not a single teacher who was a shirker. Ho recognised that our lirst duty was to win the war, but he considered that there wcro some men in the country who could be better spared than the teachers of the national schools. Ho had no power to appeal for teachers, as lie- was not their employer, and under the Act only employers could appeal. Some boards were appealing, but others were not. Ho had recently discussed the question with the Chairman of the Efficiency Board, .who agreed with him that the timo had, arrived when they should call a halt, in the interests of education. Accordingly, he intended to ask Mr. Masscy and Sir Joseph Ward 011 their return to New Zealand to give the Director of Education power of lodging appeals.