SIZE OF CLASSES

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 192, 10 May 1940, Page 7

SIZE OF CLASSES

Teachers Urge Reduction

The need for reduction in the size of classes was again stressed at the conference in Wellington yesterday of the New Zealand Educational Institute. A nuni'bor of remits on the question. submitted by various branches, was considered by the sessions committee and embodied in one motion, which was carried as follows:— “That one extra assistant of Grade B, be appointed to schools of Grade YA; that two extra assistants of Grade B be appointed to schools of Grade VB and VC; that one extra assistant of Grade B lie appointed to Grade VI schools; if further supernumerary teachers are available, one extra .assistant of Grade B be appointed to schools below Grade V which are near the maximum roll of the grade.” The chairman of Hie sessions committee, Mr. A. Hanna (Otago), said Hie Director of Education, Dr. C. E. Beeby, had recently referred to the department’s desire to reduce Hie size of schools, and the institute president, in Ids annual report, bad proved conclusively Hint the time when this should bo done was long overdue. There was an increasing number of teachers nor. permanently employed, and while a great deal was being said of what could lie done for soldierteachers, he knew of no better way of helping these men than by giving them permanent positions on their return to New Zealand. The committee considered that no class. should consist of more than -10 pupils, and that 35 would be the ideal number. A remit from the North Otago branch, that contributing schools be staffed according to the scale for mixed schools, except that, the position of the infant mistress remain as at present, was also carried.