TEACHERS’ BONDS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 849, 18 December 1929, Page 11

TEACHERS’ BONDS

NEW REGULATIONS * TWO BONDSMEN REQUIRED The obligations of parents or guardians and of students entering Training College were outlined in a report' presented by -the department at a meeting of the Auckland Education Board this morning. The department now insists on separate bonds for £250 signed by both bondsmen, who are liable for the full amount should the student fall to fulfil the contract to engage in teaching for five years, in the case of a man, and three years in the case of a woman, in a school controlled by the department. The bond may be enforced if during the course a student is dismissed for immorality, wilful disobedience, or gross misbehaviour; if he fails to obtain a satisfactory report as to conduct, diligence, and attention to study; or, in the case of a woman, if she marries. Service in a private or denominational school is not accepted as satisfying the requirements of the bond. Positions are not found for teachers, and the onus is upon an ex-student to secure employment on completion of the course of training. No action can be taken, for enforcing the bond, where ex-students have made bonafide applications for positions without success. If a teacher completes only a portion of the service required under the bond a proportional reduction is made in the amount to be recovered. Where, in the opinion of a school medical officer, the health of a student is such as to make him unsuitable for the work of teaching, or where the principal of the Training College reports that, after reasonable trial, the student does not show sufficient promise of suitability for the teaching profession, the Minister may terminate the studentship. In such cases, too, the bond will not be enforced. The necessity for a separate bond was questioned by the chairman, Mr. A. Burns, who stated that most students were under the age of 21 and their bond could not be enforced. The department recommended that in future women should be eligible for the position of vice-principals of training colleges. Certain students are to be warned regarding unsatisfactory progress and a report made during next year. A few who have proved unsuitable are to have their studentships terminated. The application for a grant to enable baths to be constructed at the college is to be renewed.