SHORTAGE OF TEACHERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 June 1917, Page 7

SHORTAGE OF TEACHERS.

THE POSITION SERIOUS. (From Our Own Correspondent). Wellington, June 14. Referring to the shortage of teachers to-day, the Minister for Education (Hon. J. A. Hanan) told your correspondent that the (position undoubtedly was serious. Teachers had been enlisting in large numbers in all partß of New Zealand and recently many teachers had been drawn in the ballots. The Boards were finding increasing difficulty in maintaining their staffs, and it was obvious that if the depletion of the ranks of the teaching profession continued unchecked for any prolonged period, the, Dominion would be faced with the necessity of closing some of the schools ilyThe Minister mentioned that he had ■placed the matter lief ore Cabinet, which had asked the National Efficiency Board jto study the position. The Board had decided that educational institutions, including the primary schools, should be placed in class B in the classification of industries. The industries in class A arc "most essential" and those in class B are "essential." The effect of this classification is to give education boards and liigh school boards a ground for appeal to the Military Service Boards in the cases of teacheTS whose- retention in the service is Regarded as essential. Tho Minister emphasised that the right •of appeal lay with the education hoards and high schools boards and not with the Department. The teachers are employed 'by the board's and the Education Department as represented by the Minister has no standing in the matter.