THE SHORTAGE OF TEACHERS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2173, 7 September 1920, Page 3

THE SHORTAGE OF TEACHERS.

PRIMARY INSTRUCTION

REPORT OF WANGANUI

INSPECTORS.

A serious aspect of the shortage of efficient teachers was referred to by the inspectors attached to the 'Wanganui Education Board in their annual report to the Department. The reference follows: — “During the year the district high schools suffered greatly through changes in (lie teaching staff. It is a thousand pities more young teachers do not prepare for secondary school teaching, but so hmg as they avoid science during their university course so long will they be of little service to the district high schools. V, a do not remember a time when teachers of the type wo require were so scarce. From this cause our district high schools are languishing; the largest department, which a few years ago had more than SO pupils on the roll, has now about half that number; three of the smaller departments have a .desperate struggle for existence, and disestablishment is threatening. In two instances the departments arc pro-, spering, and in these cases the stuff has been permanent and the instruction regular and efficient. W<? do not

think, the failure of the smaller departments is to he taken as indicating (hat there m little demand for .secondary education in the country districts. "We ascribe tho failure to lack of efficient teaching, and to lack of continuity in the instruction.”

Remarking upon the quality of (he instruct ion given in primary schools in the Wanganui Education District, (he inspectors state: “Speaking generally, we found drawing greatly improved, owing mainly tb the untiring efforts of the Board’s special instructor, in whose methods teachers take a marked and profitable interest. Composition is not as well taught as we should like, too run eh attention being given to the more formal branches. Oral composition is scarcely practised, except in a few good schools, where in the highest, classes free debating gave ns great pleasure. The art of letter and essay writing is regularly practised by the pupils, hut rarely taught in a systematic manner. Recitation is as much neglected, and is badly taught. Spelling is not the fetish if used to he, and gradually more enlightened methods of teaching the subject are making their way in the schools. Mental arithmetic is kept out in the cold, for the formal text book occupies most of the pupils’ time. In few country sellouts are geography and history taught, and it is a common experience to find the text-book usurping the place of the oral lesson. In the larger schools, however, these subjects are, in our opinion, faithfully taught, and oral lessons are the rule. If has been suggested, and no doubt with good reason, that where the text book is so slavishly followed to the exclusion of the oral lesson, the teacher herself lacks a knowledge of what she is expected to teach.”