TEACHING PROFESSION.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 August 1918, Page 1

TEACHING PROFESSION.

PLAN OF CAMPAIGN ADOPTED

AUCKLAND, August 10

The disabilities under which the work of tile primary schools is being carried on were considered at a conierenee attended bv the members of the Auckland Headmasters’, MTmion Teachers, and Country Teachers’ Associations. The (Iminna* said that the teaching profession at present was honeycombed with disco lit cut, and the service conditions were fast becoming intolerable. So unsatisfactory bad they become that many parents, able to afford the expense, were sending their children to private, schools, mostly denominational, where, through the use of money, an environment could exist that public schools could have. Ibe environment sought by the wealthy for their children was just as necessary for the children of the rest <il the community and it was that for which the teachers intended to light, though they disliked the necessity for political pressure. The Headmasters Association lmd concluded that il was the only remedy.

It was proposed to ask the Educational Institute to promote a petition to Parliament similar to that which had been so successful in the ease oi the railway workers. In order to prepare for this by moulding public opinion. they bad prepared a plan of campaign under which it. was proposed to seek remedies tor the following disabilities —inadequate staffing of schools necessitating the placing of classes under young ami untrained beginners, overcrowded and tuihygenic spaces lack of Government depots for simply ■ 1 school requisites; inadequate grants to school committees; lack o| sufficient disinfection of schools and want of proper sanitation; insufficiency of shelter accommodation in school grounds, and lack of "luncheon rooms lor both children and teachers. The plan of campaign drawn up h.v the Headmaster’s Association "as adopted, with the following planks:Press campaign and efforts to obtain support and co-operation of the Auckland branch of the National Council of Women, Labour unions. Workers’ Educational Institute, Farmers’ Union, and Employers’ Federation; ah > the closer working arrangement with the School Committee’s Association. It was resolved that a' scheme should he submitted to the management . commit te-:'* of the Educational 'TnstituTe, with a request for their endorsement.