Surplus Teachers

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 581, 6 February 1929, Page 1

Surplus Teachers

POSITION TO BE PLACED BEFORE MINISTER

GRADING DISCUSSED

As the supply of teachers is likely | to exceed the number of positions the Auckland Education Board decided today to set the facts before the Minister of Education, who will visit Auckland this week. Probationary assistants who ha\ r e had a year’s service find it difficult to get positions in open competition, because of their low grading. The result is that only a few of them get jobs. Mr. PI. S. W. King, suggested at the board meeting to-day that the whole position should be reviewed and some alterations in the present system of appointment agreed on. The fact that the supply was exceeding the demand was important. Mr. J. Boddie urged that a more careful selection of probationers should be made. The board was getting teachers of both sexes whom it would be much better without. It should be extremely careful to encourage only those applicants who were “really tip-top.” The Chairman, Mr. A. Burns: Unfortunately, we haven’t the power. The highest graded applicant gets the position. “We should put on the list only those names which are without question.” said Mr. Boddie. The Chairman: The Act says that the highest-graded applicant gets the j positions. The board is only a medium of appointment. Mr. King: If we are satisfied that there will be a surplus of teacher* out of employment this year the board should bring it to the notice of the Minister. “I was under the impression lhat there would be considerably less unemployment than last year," said the chairman. It was decided to meet the Minister on Friday morning.