Teachers From Forces Praise Refresher Plan

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 251, 23 October 1945, Page 4

Teachers From Forces Praise Refresher Plan

IF it were not for the fact that they have been able to attend the special refresher courses at the Auckland Teachers' Training College it is probable that a number of former teachers who have been released from the Services would have entered other walks of life. This opinion was freely expressed by refresher students in conversation with a reporter at the college to-day. All of them are particularly interested in the course, and are full of praise for this method of rehabilitation. • Actually these courses have been in operation since 1943, so there has been ample opportunity of getting a true assessment of their value. They have been of great benefit to returned men, many of whom have remarked that it would be an advantage to put the system on a permanent basis so that all members of the profession, irrespective of whether their teaching careers have been interrupted by the war or not, would have an opportunity of getting together and thrashing out problems of common interest. Flexibility is the keynote of the syllabus, and students are not tied to any hard and fast rules. On account of this they are able to concentrate on those subjects which in their opinion require particular attention. There is an arrangement whereby they can visit various schools and study the classes in action. According to the principal of the college, Mr. D. M. Rae, various headmasters have co-ope-rated wholeheartedly. t Majority From Middle East At the present time some 80 returned servicemen are attending the course. Their ages vary from 21 to 40. Some have been out of college for as long as 20 years. The majority have returned from service in the Middle East, and several of them have been prisoners of war. They have held rank from private soldier to major. "After years of Army life, I, like all the other students here, was rather doubtful about returning to school teaching," one of the teachers remarked. "My first visit to a school after being discharged from the Army was quite an ordeal. I did not think I could fit into the scheme of things again. However, the chance came to take up this refresher course, and it is amazing how it has helped me to readjust myself. I can think of no better system of rehabilitation." All the refresher students speak very highly of the interest shown by the staff, and the staff comments most favourably on the eagerness of the students to co-operate. "It has been a great pleasure to contribute to the rehabilitation of these men," said Mr. Rae, who added that the Education Board had been most helpful. While the men are undergoing this course they are receiving their full salaries. It appears that their only problem is the housing situation, and they have pointed out that numbers of teachers have been obliged to accept inferior appointments at country schools in order to get houses for themselves and their families.