INSPECTORS’ CONFERENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 February 1921, Page 5

INSPECTORS’ CONFERENCE.

TRAINING YOUNG TEACHERS. By Telegraph.—Press Association Wellington, Feb. 9. The subject of the training of uncertificated teachers, pupil teachers and probationers discussed to-day at the school inspectors’ conference. The Minister of Education said that he was considerably concerned about uncertificated teachers, for nearly onethird of their teachers were uncertificated. He believed that there was good material amongst them, but the question was their adequate training. Many of them received thejr training by correspondence or at summer schools, but was that sufficient? The subject of model schools was interwoven with this question. He would rather that some of the out-of-the-way schools were closed down for even three months, to enable teachers to receive instruction, even though parents might grumble at the temporary cessation of school work. The itinerant teacher was. another suggestion for dealing with isolated families, giving a promising young teacher a good salary to go round among the out-njf-the-way places and give extensive courses of instruction. Wellington, Last Night. At the Education Conference to-day, Mr. W. Brock (Canterbury) suggested the abolition of the existing system of pupil teachers and probationers, and he proposed that trainees should first go to a normal school and receive training there before commencing teaching. Mr. Caughley (assistant-Director of Education) and the Minister pointed out the financial difficulties of the present position, and said they now had a pupil teacher system and they must make the best of it. The former said that already a move was being made in the direction indicated by Mr. Brock.