UNCERTIFICATED TEACHERS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 39, 26 May 1910, Page 2

UNCERTIFICATED TEACHERS.

TO QUALIFY OR MARCH. EDUCATION BOARD'S DECISION. At yesterday's meeting of the Education Board, Mr. A. Morton referred to a return 'prepared, at his instigation, giving the names of uncertificated teach' ers in the Board's' employ, particulars of their appointments, what proportion of them sat for examinations with a view of obtaining their certificates. He had been surprised to see that the Board had no less than 49 uncertificated teachers in positions at present. He had been prepared to learn that there were fifteen, but 4!) was a number out of all proportion to the number of teachers in the Board's service. From the return he learned that at the last examination I thirteen of these uncertificated teachers] s'at for their classification certificate, and 'five passed. He moved that the attention of these uncertificated teachers be drawn to the recent resolution of the Board to the effect that unless they qualify for classification they will receive notice of dismissal. Possibly some of them were not yet aware of that decision, and this reminder would give them every opportunity of preparing themselves for the examination. The idea of the Board was to replace uncertificated teachers with certificated teachers wherever possible. In January next the changes would have to be effected, and the positions now held by uncertificated teachers would be offered to those who bad qualified by examination. Of course, if they qualified in the meantime the positions' would not have to be re-advertised. Mr. Cargill supported the motion, and pointed out that under the transfer system now adopted, this question would be greatly simplified. There would necessarily still be some .positions in remote districts held by uncertificated teachers, but he noticed that some of these teachers held billets worth £l2O, £l4O and '£lßo per annum, which'must be offered to the teachers who had passed the necessary qualifying examinations'. The chairman said the Board had power to dismiss any of these teachers and to .place a certificated teacher in charge. Mr. Trimble pointed' out that many of the teachers scheduled in the return were just out of their pupil teachership, and had as yet no chance to qualify. Mr. Ad-lam said the Board was itself responsible for the large number of uncertificated teachers. Vacancies' had been temporarily filled by these teachers, and, despite its regulations, the Board had not backbone enough from time to time to refuse the request of the school committees to allow the uncertificated teacher to remain in charge. Mr. Morton desired to make it clear that he was not anxious to penalise these teachers, or drive them out of the service, but merely to compel them to try and qualify for their positions. So long as the Board was prepared to let matters drift as they had done, these teachers would also carry out that policy. The motion was carried without disA'ent. I