RATIONING OF TEACHERS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 49, 28 January 1932, Page 7

RATIONING OF TEACHERS.

OUTLINE OF SCHEME. WANGANUI BOARD’S APPROVAL. Details of a. Scheme for the rationing of work among school teachers came before yesterday’s meeting of the Wanganui Education Board. It was explained, in a circular from the Education Department that it would be necessary-, as in previous years, for the boards to, apply for approval before appointing additional assistants. During 1932 the positions usually filled by. probationary assistants,, substituted probationary assistants, additional assistants and relieving teachers of grades A and B Would be regarded as relieving positions and would be filled with ex-Training College students, who would receive a salary of £IOO per year, together with, where necessary, a boarding allowance at the rate of £36 per year or travelling expenses at a rate not to ex>eed £24 a year. Relieving teachers for the higher lositions, that is the sole teachers of arge grade two schools, head teachers, and assistants of grade two or higher, rould not come within the scope of -he scheme.

All the following positions would be irented as relieving positions: Projationary and substituted assistants’ additional assistants’ and ordinary relieving teachers’ positions. That would nean, the department explained, that except for ordinary teacher relieving >ositions, other positions would be held irdinarily by one set of teachers for he whole year, would be occupied by ne batch’ during the first school term nd by another batch during the secnd and so on.

Students who have qualified for ertificates: on leaving training college rould- have them issued to them, and ;hey would be graded. None but 'graded teachers would participate in the rationing scheme. The secretary, Mr W. H. Swanger,, reported: “The number of teachers in this district who are without permanent appointments, is as follows: Last years probationary and substituted assistants, 41; second-year students who have just left Training College, 36: third-year students who have just deft Training College, 10; others, 29; total, 116. Under the scheme for the rationing of work 39 tenchers have been appointed for the first term to fill positions usually occupied by probationary assistants, and 15 to ordinary relieving positions, 6o that there will be 62 teachers without employment -when the schools. re-open on February 1. During the second term 39 of the 62 will take the places of the 39 who have been appointed for the first term.' “It is hoped to secure approval for the appointment of some additional assistants to the staffs of the larger schools, and‘thus provide employment for about 12 more teachers. The grading of teachers will be revised at the beginning of -Apwl, and should result in quite a number of the highergraded unemployed teachers securing permanent .appointments.” “Why not..close the Training College for a couple of years?” asked Mr J. K. Hornblow.

The chairman, Mr, E. F. Hemingway, said that was being done by degrees. Mr M. H; Cram thought the scheme was a genuine attempt to meet a very awkward position. The chairman said that criticism should be constructive and not destructive. The department was endeavouring to meet the position. The board approved of the scheme.