SHORTAGE OF TEACHERS

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 51, 23 May 1927, Page 5

SHORTAGE OF TEACHERS

IN AUSTRALIAN SCHOOLS UNPOPULAR PROFESSION Mr. H. C. Hart, general secretary of the Victorian Teachers’ Union, states that investigation of the staffing of about 200 of the largest of the State elementary schools revealed that, despite the employment of large numbers of temporary teachers, the majority of whom were without sufficient qualifications or experience to obtain permanent employment, more than 40 per cent, of the schools had fewer teachers than the number laid down by the regulations for their respective enrolments. The aggregate shortage in the schools noted was 8.7 per cent, in the case of men and 3.1 per cent, in the case of women. Considering only teachers on the permanent roll, one would conclude from statistics tabulated that these schools were short of qualified assistants to the extent of 10 per cent, of men and 10.3 per cent, of women. “These figures,” said Mr. Hart, “show that the teaching profession is not nearly so attractive as it has been in the past; something is lacking in the matter of remuneration or of opportunities for promotion and conditions of working. This is borne out by the large number of resignations recorded in the current number of the “Education Gazette” (47 classified and 40 juniors). It was predicted that when the Teachers Act of 1925 came into operation the existing shortage would be remedied, but there is a shortage of 19.6 per cent, of qualified junior teachers. There has been an attempt to meet this deficiency by the appointment of temporary junior teachers (chiefly eighth-grade girls), but the total falls short of the statutory number by 7.7 per cent. “Some action is urgently required. The children who are being taught by unskilled temporary teachers and irresponsible girls of 14 or so, are not receiving a ‘fair deal.’ It is a sad commentary on the education conscience of our legislators that, although the regulation staffing allows for very large classes, the Education Department has only seven qualified teachers, where, by regulation, there should be ten.”