STAFF SHORTAGES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 October 1943, Page 2

STAFF SHORTAGES

POSITION AT WAIRARAPA COLLEGE EFFECT ON WORK OF PUPILS RELEASES FROM THE ARMY URGED. STRONG ACTION PROPOSED BY BOARD. The serious effect of staff shortages, at Wairarapa College, on pupils who were preparing for examinations was mentioned at last night’s meeting of the Wairarapa College Board of Governors by the Acting-Principal, Mr F. j. Gair. In his report to the board Mr Gair said there had been unavoidable staff absences lately. Mr G. W. Morice had suffered a setback in health and had been ordered a month’s rest. His replacement for that time was presenting great difficulties. Not only was, it impossible to obtain a teacher with Mr Morice's qualifications, but it was impossible to obtain any teacher. An appeal made through the Armed Forces Appeal Board to release for a few weeks one of the Grade 2 officers in Wellington had been unsuccessful. “I hope, however, that the parents of pupils and the board will not be mute and docile over this matter,” added Mr Gair. The chairman (Mr A. Owen Jones) said it was anticipated that a member of the staff at present in the Air Force would soon be released. “It is a vital time of the year for the boys and girls,” observed Mr W. R. Nicol. Mr Jones: “It is serious.” HOME SERVICE MEN. Mr Gair later raised the matter of members of the staff serving in the Army in New Zealand and the board decided unanimously to empower the Education Committee to appeal for all staff teachers whose service was confined to serving in New Zealand. “We should take drastic action,” said Mr Nicol. TEACHERS AS CLERKS. Mr F. C. Daniell said that in cases where the board unsuccessfully appealed for members of its staff, it should appeal again. Why, he said, the Army should take trained men to do clerical work was beyond him. There were older men in the community willing to do that. “Irrespective of wars our first thought should be for the children’s interests,” observed Mr Nicol. “The resolution passed by the board will undoubtedly have the support of other boards in the Dominion,” said Mr F. C. Daniell. “Why should A grade men hold down jobs in New Zealand?” asked Mr Jones. “If the Army is not going to send them overseas we want them here.” APPEAL TO DEPARTMENT. The secretary (Mr H. M. Boddingten) read a letter he following on the last meeting of»the board, to the Education Department, in which the board requested that teachers who were returned to service in New Zealand should be directed back to the schools from which they had been called away. The letter stated that the board realised that there was a difference between the pay in the Armed Forces and the teaching profession, which was acting as a deterrent. The Department had replied that the board’s representations would be noted and if the board wished to appeal for anyone it would probably support the appeals. The meeting agreed that the reply was not satisfactory and the chairman’s action in again replying to the Department was endorsed.