YOUTHS NOT OFFERING

Taranaki Daily News, 19 September 1940, Page 8

YOUTHS NOT OFFERING

TEACHING PROFESSION POSITION IN TARANAKI There will be a preponderance of females among Taranaki candidates for admission to the teachers' training college next year, according to a statement at the meeting of the Taranaki Education Board yesterday. Though the applications did not close until the end of the month and it would not be possible to give details before next month's meeting, it was already evident that there would be a dearth of young men applying, stated the secretary, Mr. H. W. Insull. He understood there would be no candidates from the New Plymouth Boys' High School this year, but there would be four or five each from the Hawera and Stratford Technical High Schools and one or two from the Opunake District High School. Little Inducement? That appeared to bear out the contention of the board that under existing conditions there was little inducement for a young man to enter the teaching profession, remarked a member. The necessity for the Taranaki quota of candidates for the training college being increased to ensure that Taranaki secured a sufficient number of probationary assistants at the end of their training period was emphasised. It was pointed out that Taranaki never had enough probationary assistants because, owing to the families of the candidates in some cases shifting from the province during the training period' and some candidates taking a university course remaining an extra year, Taranaki never got back as many teachers as it sent away candidates. The deficiency had to be made up from other districts. Whereas Taranaki candidates came out of the college with an average grade of 208, the average of the 10 that were obtained from other districts was 219. Representations will be made to the department with a view to having the Taranaki quota increased.