APPOINTMENT OF TEACHERS

Hokitika Guardian, 19 June 1931, Page 8

APPOINTMENT OF TEACHERS

PLANNING FIVE YEARS AHEAD. STATEMENT BY DIRECTOR. CH’RISTCHURCH, June 17. The relationship between unemployment among teachers and new entrants to the profession was commented upon by the Director of Education (Mr T. B. Strong) in the course of an interview yesterday. He said that a small reduction in the number of probationers appointed would he .nade next year, and that all the probationers at present ettg.*ged:; would he permitted. to enter upon ith'dir ‘Training College course. ‘‘Tt is not generally realised G’-.r the number of entrants to the teachmg profession must be determined bve years before they are actually needed to make good staff wastage, for the period of training covers four years, ho said. u |.f must always be difficult, to fot'cast financial conditions five years ahead, and, as matters stand, the Department s intentions and desires with regard to reducing the size of classes have b""t’ frustrated by the present financial stringency.

UNABLE TO FOR SEE DEPRESSION.. “The policy of the Department has always been to take every opportunity of reducing the size of classes. 'J h:s has always been kept in view when est; mating the number of young teachers who should he allowed to enter the profession. The present financial situation could not be foreseen five years ago, and consequently a large number ol young teachers are now uii'mploy d who would under normal conditions have been used to supplement. the regular staff so that large classes might he broken into smaller units. “The suggestion has been made in certain quarters that the number of entrants to the profession next year should be substantially reduced, but those responsible for this suggested cure overlook the fact that next year’s entrants will not join the regular teaching staff until 1906, when it is hoped that th" present depression will long since have passed away. There is nothing in -h rumour that the Training College entrance examination will not he held this year.

C( >LI,EGE EiNTRAIN'T,S. “Tt has also been suggested that the probationers at present employed ju the schools should not all he allowid to enter the Training .Oolleg“s next year. As these young teachers, however, wll be ,required to enter the staff’ :n l c “ it is thought better not to follow Ur? course, hut to proceed as usual to allow them to enter upon their Training College course. “There will, however, he some small reduction in the number of probationers appointed next year, since the primary school- attendance has ■ from various reasons decreased—the war, or a declining birth-rate may he the reasons. Unfortunately for those leaving the Train-

ing 'Colleges at the end ol this year there is a prospect of considerable unemployment unless next year's financial situation is easier.

“The' Department hopes to he able to revert to the former practice of appointing additional assistants wherever -the classes are unduly large.” he said in conclusion. “Whether this is done or not depends 071 the state of the eoiinfrv’s finances, and the amount of public money available for education.”