SOLDIER TEACHERS.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 209, 3 September 1919, Page 8

SOLDIER TEACHERS.

BOARD SUGGESTS CONCESSION. STRONG ACTION TO BE TAKEN. The treatment to be meted out to uncertificated soldier teachers was discussed at to-day's meeting of the Auckland Education Board.

By direction of the Board, the secretary had written to the Director of Education at Wellington advising him that the Board was about to advertise in progressive stages some 112 positions held temporarily during the war' in order that teachers on service might have an opportunity of competing for them. The letter stated that many returned men do not hold teachers' certificates, and unless some concession was made by the granting of a provisional certificate or otherwise they would be practically debarred from obtaining a suitable position. "The Board suggests," the letter continued, "that in respect of all teachers absent from school duties upon war work a year or more they be deemed until March, 1922 to be the holders of class D certificate, and that inspectors be instructed to award marks on that basis." The Board was strongly of opinion that the concession suggested should be granted to the soldier teachers, so that they might have an opportunity of redeeming their position in respect of a certificate at three examinations. If the granting of such concessions were beyond the powers of the Department the Board asked that remedial legislation be at once introduced, and that the matter be treated as a very urgent one.

It was pointed out by the secretary that the Department's offer to grant a teachers' license up to June, 1920, would not meet the case, as the uncertificated teachers 'would be still at a great disadvantage in competing for positions. He had sent a telegram to the Department to this effect, and a rcplv had been received stating that it woiild be illegal to grade uncertificated teachers, but the Board could, on the inspector's report, consider soldier teachers equal to others on the grading list. Several members of tho Board spoke 6tronglv in support of the suggested 'concessions. It was decided to forward copies of all the correspondence to education boards throughout New Zealand, and to request the members of the Board who will be in Wellington next week to communicate with the Minister on the subject.