TEACHING ENTRANCE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 914, 6 March 1930, Page 6

TEACHING ENTRANCE

PROVISIONS PENALISE PROBATIONERS POSTPONEMENT URGED The introduction by the Education Department in November last of a Training College entrance examination, in meaning that successes in the Class D Examination will not be accepted in admitting teaching probationers to the college, has penalised students who already have several subjects in Class D. Realising the effects of this penalty, the Auckland Education Board this morning decided to request the department to postpone the introduction of its new examination for a year. The proposal of the department was to hold the examination in November this year at a time which several board members criticised, owing to a clashing of dates with the University examinations. Postponed a year, probationers would bo aware of the requirements of the entrance examination in 1931; at the moment, many with several subjects in Class D would be severely affected by not having the benefit of those successes and by having to face a more difficult examination. The chairman of the board, Mr. A. Burns, in remarking on the concern among probationers, said the feeling of many was that the new provision had been brought in without warning. He thought the decision had been made hurriedly. The proposed entrance examination would clash with the University examinations, and he suggested the forwarding of a request to the department to suspend the regulations for a year. Probationers then proposing to take up the two years’ work in Training College would be prepared for the requirements. IMPROVED QUALIFICATIONS Mr. T. U. Wells: The object of the examination seems to be to secure entrants who are more highly qualified. Mr. Burns asked if a danger would not be created in preventing promising teachers from entering college—children of parents who could not afford to retain their children at secondary schools for a post-matriculation course to study for the higher mathematics required in the entrance examination. Promising young men and women would probably be lost to the service. He believed that the children of wealthier parents would have an advantage. “The effect of the regulation is to make the service more academic,” said Mr. R. Hoe. “Practical efficiency should receive equal consideration. 1 suggest that this point should be recommended to the department.” Mr. H. S. W. King pointed out that the board, while acting because the provisions were rather unjust to probationers who liad already prepared for entrance, was not disapproving of an effort to improve qualifications. PAYING STUDENTS DEPARTMENT OUTLINES CONDITIONS A question raised at the Education Board this morning by Mr. S. B. Sims was the advisability of distinguishing paying students at the Training College. Dealing with students in the class concerned. Division B, a memorandum from the Education Department asked the board to inform intending students that, on entering college without previous experience as teachers, they can receive certificates only after completing two years’ satisfactory work at the college, passing the entrance examination, and by completing a year as adult teachers in registered schools. Neither the board nor the department can guarantee these students employment as teachers when they complete their training. They cannot be regarded as having a claim on the State for employment. After students

complete their probationary year of service and receive certificates, they are graded and may then come in competition with other teachers. In general, it is expected that they train for service in private schools. “It does not seem fair to have these teachers competing with our own,” declared Mr. Sims. “It seems a pity that they cannot be distinguished.” The department’s information will be sent to Mr. D. M. Rae, principal of the college.