YOUNG TEACHERS

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 138, 9 December 1930, Page 4

YOUNG TEACHERS

IMPORTANT PROVISO

MOKE FACTS WANTED

The necessity,-as advertised, for applicants for probationerships becoming available from Ist February, next to give an undertaking that onrthc termination of their Training College course they will be prepared to accept service us' teachers in any part of-the Dominion/ was considered by the .Wellington School Committees recently, and at its meeting last night the following reply ■to inquiry on the matter, was received from the-Education. Department:— "The question of'supply and" train-' jng' of teachers being a national one, the Department, with tho co-operation of education boards, seeks to recruit lor the teaching service the best applicants offering, irrespective of their place of residence. It follows that an education district may ha%-e more probationers, than are required to fill the quota of probationary assistants for that district after the training college course has- been completed. In the event of such a possibility the excess of the quota would bo appointed in some other Oisiriet. Should it be necessary in thtr future to " appoint probationary assistants in districts other than their home districts for the past two years, applicants for appointments as' probationers have been requested to undertake to serve in any part of the Dominion on the completion of their training, college course." Miss J. G. Park said she did not consider the Department had given any real.reply to the association's inquiry. It.had simply, restated the; advertisenicut. • . • ' Mr. J. J. Clark said it might bo that in some districts there were more applicants than vacancies. In these cases the. Department reserved the right to send the surplus to another district. Ho thought the practice had been in operation, for some time. Miss J. Little asked what the positiun would be-if trainees had to give this, undertaking, but wanted to take their degrees ar. the "University, and Miss Park also stressed the psychological effect on parents arising from the advertisement. Compulsion -would inako parents, of very desirable girls in particular, hesitate before they sot them out on a course of training for the teaching profession, and it seemed to hel- that the profession could not afford to have any but the best as teachers. Mr. Clark said that if all the trainees. Wanted-to stay in the..town, so they could attciid the' University, the country Schools would, get' no probationary assistants.. The board always tried to meet the wishes of those wanting to atlend the University classes. : Miss Park said the Department should be asked: ; ?' Were the difficulties so'real that this requirement was justified; was it for one year and was a person's word to be his bond?" during tbo past year tho Education "Board had had sonu; teachers who rather objected to going, to tho conn try and expected to I>e left in tho town its a. ;.mattcr of right, said Mr, Clark in explanation, and the proviso* had been put-in to overcome thnt. iTe die! not anticipate- any trouble at all by reason of-it being put in the advertisement ■ After further discussion a. motion was; 'carried' <v That it be point cd out id" the Department the effect that tins provision may have by deterring people from entering (he profession in these circumstances, and so defeating nts object, arid that the .Department be asked for a. return showing the number, of probationers and the number ivho have'refused to takti up appointments outside their own district."' _ One delegate present said tliat speaking as a parent she "would not-like to see her girl buried in the', bush " ' I