SUITABLE TEACHERS.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18916, 3 February 1927, Page 11

SUITABLE TEACHERS.

PROBLEMS OK APPOINTMENT. VIEWS OF AUCKLAND EDUCATION BOARD. ITHE PRESS* Special Service.] AUCKLAND, February "The educational standard should not in all cases be the main factor in selecting applicants, as it often operates against the more suitable candidates who have not the advantages of highly specialised instruction available to those attending large secondary schoolo," submitted Mr A. Burns, chairman of the Auckland Education Board, at a meeting of the Board to-day. Air Burns proposed that a proportion of the vacancies in schools should be set aside for candidates from the district with the D certificate, or matriculation qualification. This i mid ensure getting a typo of teacher used to country conditions. Experience of the service went to show that the most highly-educated person did not always make the most successful teacher. Some splendid applicants were iu the country, declared Mr Burns, aud they should bo placed in positions. It was very disheartening for boys or girls who put-in four or five years at a secondary school, with the main object of becoming teachers, to have their applications declined. Teachers were wanted for the country, because difficulty was experienced by tho Board in obtaining sufficient town educated boys and girls to go out to the smaller schools. This year tlie Board had taken the liberty of appointing a few country applicants, but the regulations did not provide l'or this, and if tho regulations were rigidly adhered to, scarcely one couutry applicant would have been appointed. Tho successful applicants included the names of a number of caudidates from private schools as well. Married Women Teachers. Mr F. A. Snell staid lie considered the position was aggravated by retaining married women teachers in the service. He said that the young people were put to a good deal of expense in qualifying, and it was not fair that they should be prevented from getting positions when married women, whose husbands were earning a living, were in the employ of the Board. Mr Burns replied that the question was taken up by the Education Boards of New Zealand, and a request was made to the Department to have legislation passed {,'ving the Boards discretionary powers in the appointment of married women teachers. "The Board does not wish to make it compulsory for all married women to resign," said Mr Burns, in explaining the attitude of the Auckland Education Board. It was decided to send the chairman's report and reeomniend.itions to the Department in Wellington. The Board agreed not to suggest a definite percentage as to the employment of probationers from the country. The secretary was asked to prepare a report upon the number of married women teachers in the employ of the Board.