DISSATISFIED TEACHERS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 277, 12 August 1918, Page 4

DISSATISFIED TEACHERS

MEETING IN AUCKLAND. By Telegraph-Press Association ~, ~ ' Auckland, August 10. Ike disabilities under which the work of the primary schools is being carried oft were considered at a conference attended by the members of tho Auckland Headmasters, Women Teachers, and Country Teachers' Association. The chair, mail said that the teaching profession nt present was honeycombed with discontent and that the service conditions were fast becoming intolerable. So unsatisfactory had they become that many parents who were able to afford tho expense were sending their children to private schools, mostly denominational, where, through tho use of money, an environment could exist that few public scnools have. The environment sought by the wealthy for their children was just as necessary- for the children of the rest of the community, and it was that far which' teachers intended to fight. Though they disliked ■ the necessity for political pressure, the Headmasters' Association iiad concluded that it was the only remedy. It was proposed to ask the Educational Institute to promote a petition to Parliar. :nt similar to that which had been so ruccessful in the case of tho railway workers. In order to prepare for this, '>y moulding public opinion, they had prepared a plan of campaign, under which it was proposed to seek remedies for the following disabilities:— Inadequate staffing of schools, necessitating the placing of classes under young end untrained beginners. Overcrowded and unhygienic classrooms. Congested playground spaces Lack of Government depots for the supply of school requisites. Inadequate grants to school committees. Lack of sufficient disinfection of schools and want of v propor sanitation. Insufficiency of shelter accommodation in school grounds, and Lack 'of luncheon rooms' for both children rind teachers. A plan of campaign was drawn un by the Headmasters' Association, t nd adopt-, cd with the following planks:—Press campaign, and efforts to obtain the support and co-operation of th? Auckland branch of the National Council of Women, Labour Unions, Workers' Educational Institute, Farmers' Union, and Employers' Federation, and also a closer working arrangement with the School Committees' Association.

It was resolved that Hie scheme sbmi.ld be submitted to tho Management Committeo of (lie Educational Institute with n request for endorsement.