STAFFING OF SCHOOLS

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 30, 29 October 1921, Page 3

STAFFING OF SCHOOLS

NUMBER OF PUPILS FEE TEACHER. “The number of teachers employed in the primary departments of public schools in 1920 was 5<55, as compared with 5626 in 1919,” states the Minister of •Education in his annual report. Of the* total number, 5175 were adult, teache.s (1675 males and 3590 females) and &8O were pupil teachers (114 males and 466 females). The increase in numbers took place in'the adult staff, there being G 9 more male teachers nnd 106 more female teachers than in 1919. There were 46 fewer pupil teachers than in the previous year, but this decrease was more than compensated for in the increased number of probationers. In addition to the staff of adult teachers and pupil teachers 580 probationers were employed —144 mere than in 1919. Of the total, 95 were males and 48.1 females, the number of males having increased by 50 per cent. “The average number of pupils per teacher in all schools remains at thirtyt wo. this comparatively low figure being dominated by the large number of small sole-teaehcr schools. The average number in the larger schools is considerably greater, being forty-three when schools with six or more teachers are taken together. This figure shows a reduction of two on tho corresponding average for 1919, due no doubt to tho provision made at the end of 1919 for slightly better staffing in tho large schools. Each year it has been possible to make some small advance in the direction of staffing conditions, Mid the amended regulations of 1920, while not prescribing an increase in the number of the staff, provided for the appointment of assistants of a higher grade than previously in schools of°variovs sizes, thus ensuring in these cases a more efficient if not a more numerous staff. Tn the London County Council schools the average number of pupils per teacher is thirty-seven, 4000 classes under one teacher being forty or le«s in number, 7000 being between forty n.nd fifty, and nearly 5000 being between fifty and sixty. Although it is recognised that ideal conditions in this respect are still some distance off in New Zealand, the comparison with tho London County Council schools, where a high standard is set, is not altogether unfavourable.”