IDLE TEACHERS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 92, 9 December 1931, Page 2

IDLE TEACHERS

SCHEME FORMULATED FOR REDUCING NUMBERS. STATEMENT BY DIRE.CTjOR. WELLINGTON, Monday. A scheme has been formulated which it is hoped will reduce to a considerable extent unemployment among young teachers during the next few years, according to a statement made by Mr. T. B. Strong, Director of Education, at the breaking-up ceremony at the Teachers' Training College. i Among those present were Mr. T. Forsyth, chairman of the Wellington Education Board, who presided; the Mayor, 'Mr." T.-C. A. Hislop, and Mrs. Hislop; Mr. T. B. Strong, Director of Education; Dr. Mcllwraith, Chief Inspector of Schools, Wellington district; Mr. Lambourne, Chief Inspector of'Primary Schools; Dr. Ada Paterson, Director of S.choOl Hygiene, Health' Department; Mr. Robert Parker; Mr. Hylton, secretary, Education Board; Mr. G. L. Stewart, formerly secretary of the board; and Professor Gould. Mr. Forsyth congratulated the students on their past year's work, and to those who had completed their training he expressed his sincere hope for their future success. Mr. E. K. Lomas, M.A., M.Sc., principal of the college, counselled those who were leaving the college at the l present time not to worry about the future, but to get busy, do their work 1 whole-heartedly, and they would have nothing to fear — if they did their best. Mr. Strong said the department appreciated very deeply indeed the work being done in the training colleges. He asked how it was that there were so many unemployed teachers. Unfortunately, it was due to circumstances over which nobody had any control. It was due to the financial situation making it necessary to reduce the number of assistants who were put into the schools to lessen the number of large classes'. In 1929-30 there were 250 additional assistants placed in the schools to enable headmasters to split up the large classes, to-day the number was about 28. They would thus see what the unfortunate result must be. The lack of money had necessitated the restricting of the employment of relieving teachers. Those two things were the main causes of the unemployment which unfortunately existed at present. He j urg.ed the students and young teachers j to face the future with courage. ! The Mayor spoke on the importance , of the teaching profession, and quoted I Kipling's lines on "Famous Men," > which he regarded' as one of the finest tributes to the 'profession.