“THEIR DAY PAST.”

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4533, 28 February 1923, Page 1

“THEIR DAY PAST.”

UNCERTIFICATED TEACHERS. A recommendation by the inspectors that applicants be invited for a number of positions at present occupied by uncertificated teachers led to an animated discussion at the meeting of the Wellington Education Board. Mr G. T. London said that it was a recognised fact that many uncertificated teachers were greater successes than those with several letters after their names. Many uncertificated teachers had served the board faithfully for years, and it would be a shame if they were , now thrown out of employment. This was one of those “fool laws,” which should Le protested against. Mr F. H. Bakewell, chief inspector, said it, was simply a question of law. Numbers of certificated teachers were being turned out of the Training College each year., They were under a bond to serve five years) in the case of men and three years in the case of women after leaving the college, and there would be no positions for them if the positions were retained by uncertificated teachers. The teachers referred to had had every opportunity to become qualified, but had either not taken the trouble to do so or had been incapable of doing so. It was not as if these teachers had been treated unfairly. The certificated teachers also had a legal claim on the State for employment in the profession for which they had fitted themselves. The recommendation of the inspectors was agreed to.