THE TEACHING PROFESSION.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 October 1921, Page 6

THE TEACHING PROFESSION.

ITS OPPORTUNITIES. “AN IMPORTANT AVENUE.” The fact that the Taranaki Education Board will be faced with the task of filling a large number of vacancies on the staff at 1 the end of this year was brought under notice by the senior inspector (Mr. J. A. Valintine) in a report presented to yesterday’s meeting. He stated: “I desire to draw the board’s attention to the fact that at the end of this year no fewer than sixteen pupil-teachers aud 15 probationers are leaving the board’s service, the majority of them to enter the Training College. The problem before the board will be the filling of those thirty-one vacancies. With that end in view, and for the information of intending applicants, I wish to point out that all candidates for employment as pupil-teachers or as probationers must hold one or other of these qualifications: (a) A higher leaving certificate; (b) a matriculation pass; (c) a partial pass for class D certificate; (d) a lower leaving certificate; (e) a Public Service entrance pass; (f) an, intermediate examination pass; (g) any other qualification which, in the opinion of the Director of Education, is equivalent to one of those mentioned above.

“Each applicant for appointment must be at least 16 years of age, and must be of good character and sound health. The term of service is two years, and the salaries payable are these: First year, £95 for boys, £9O for girls; second year, e £loo for boys, £95 for girls; with an additional sum of £3O for boarding allowance where required. “During the period of service each young person is trained in the art of teaching, and receives instruction with the view of qualifying for a teacher’s certificate. When the term of apprenticeship has expired each qualified pupil-teacher or probationer may enter a training college for further instruction. On completing this period, application may be made for appointment as a teacher, the appointments being made in accordance with the applicants’ position on the grading list. Grading marks are allotted in accordance with the quality of the work done to the end of the training college period. “The salaries payable to teachers in sole charge schools begin at £lBO in grade 1 school and rise to £270 in grade 2 school. Assistants in large schools begin at £l6O, and in a grade 3a school, where there are two teachers, the assistant begins at £2OO. These salaries may be earned by young persons of from 20 or 21 years of ago, and in addition there are increments depending on the teacher’s position in the grading list. The highest salary payable to an assistant is £4OO, and to a head teacher £4BO, together with certain increments or allowances. “These facts are brought before the board in the hope that the attention of parents and of qualified girls and boys may be directed to the position, and that in consequence. the board may receive numerous applications from those desiring to enter this most important avenue of employment.”