RAISING OF SCHOOL AGE

Hokitika Guardian, 16 June 1932, Page 3

RAISING OF SCHOOL AGE

EFFECTS ON STAFFING

CHRISTCHURCH, June 15,

As -a consequence of the raising of the school -age to six years, it is anticipated that next year some- of the larger schools in the Canterbury educational district will require two fewer teachers. This estimates . has been made on the number of children -admitted to' the schools last year.; Over thirty-five schools of all grades; the admissions of, children of five years, of age was 1895;’T79 fsix-y6ai’-qlds wereadmitted; and 52 of Seven, year's, of age,. These figures have been prepared; by’ -the- Education Board at the re-, quest of the Department, which is cornducting 'an :iinvestigation .in all school districts into questions touching on the raising of the school age. Amongother things the-boards have been aisle-..; ed to give - specimen- cases of • schools in each grade showing how many children under the . age of six yeans were admitted last year. Under the present system of staffing, every decrease of forty.,means that the school could do with one fess teacher-,-so .that if--the matter-were pushed to extremes the raising of;the school admission - age might result •in consider--able- iin'employmentl However,, most of the larger schools are already under--staffed and the .proportion of pupils to staff is well over forty to one. It was explained, too, that the effects wi-11' not be permanent, as the children, who do not begin sohoo] till-next year, will start jas soon as they are of -age.