TOO MANY CHANGES.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 76, 30 March 1928, Page 5

TOO MANY CHANGES.

STATE SCHOOL TEACHERS. mHHTEE SEES EVIL. CONFERENCE TO BE CALLED. (By Telegraph—Own Correspondent). WELLINGTON, this day.

Admitting that there was "something in the case presented," the Minister of Education, the Hon. R. A. Wright, last night accepted the suggestion from a deputation representing the School Committees' Association, the Headmasters' Association, and the New Zealand Educational Institute that a conference be called of representatives from those bodies and the Wellington Education Board to discuss with the Department - and the Minister the problem of the substitute assistant teacher and the constant changes in the teaching staffs of schools.

Mr. F. L. Combs, president of the institute, said classes of 40 and 50 children were entrusted to assistants, and though the best fared well enough, some fell behind so far as to miss promotion, while others failed to get their proficiency certificates within the age limit, which was a 6erious handicap to them in after life. Out of 3687 assistants, 460, or 12.4 per cent, ranked as probationers or substitute assistants. Such figures carried their own condemnation.

Mr. A. McKenzle, chairman of the Headmasters' Association, said that efficiency could not be secured with the constant changes that occurred in school staffs. If they retained the probationer assistant as a probationer, and reduced the number of grades of assistants to one, in place of the present three, the staffs would become more stable, and consequently more efficient. Mr. L. Hennessey, on behalf of the school committees and parents, said something must be done in the direction of permanency of positions. In reply, the Minister said there was no argument concerning the evil of frequent —Tes in staffs. If they could maintain teachers in their one position year after year it would be to the good of the children. He referred to the difficulties which arose by teachers marrying, retiring on superannuation, being sick, or moving to other positions, in consequence of the grading system. The vital issue was the permanency of the teachers, but it was a question of finance. He had not been able to get the information. The Department had been investigating other systems to see if ours could be attuned to them, or whether some other system 2culd be adopted. The suggestion of a roundtable conference on the matter was a good one, and he was disposed to agree with it.

Mr. T. B. Strong, Director of Education, said that if the interests of the children only were considered, substitute assistants might be tied down for a year, but, he asked, was it fair to tie down the good teacher to a temporary job? They were allowed to apply for permanent jobs, and changes had been more frequent than he had anticipated. That was the weakness in the change made, and it looked as if the substitute assistant should remain for a year, in the same way as a probationer assistant had to stay in Ids or her position till January 31 following his or her appointment. Every year 600 teachers were lost by retirement, marriage or death, which accounted for 600 probationers being appointed. The Minister said arrangements would be made for the conference.