HOME-VISITING TEACHERS

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27472, 5 October 1954, Page 7

HOME-VISITING TEACHERS

IMPORTANT TASK IN SERVICE

SCHEME EXPLAINED BY SENOR INSPECTOR

The visiting teachers’ service, which had been operating in the primarv schools for some 12 years, had been developed steadily since the first officers were appointed, said Mr J. F. Johnson, senior inspector of schools for the Canterbury Education Board yesterday, when asked to explain this system which the recent juvenile delinquency report recommended should be expanded. ! "The visiting teacher is primarily a teacher: her main concern is that the education of the children with whom she deals will proceed harmoniously and, as far as possible, remain uninterrupted by social or emotional problems,” said Mr Johnson. “Where these arise her function is to act as a link between school, home and community, handling problems of behaviour, attendance, punctuality and the like. “With special regard for any symptoms of incipient delinquency the visiting teacher investigates at’ first hand in the home apparent deviation from normality, which are reflected in the child’s adjustment and progress in school. "Visiting teachers are attached for administrative convenience, to a school centrally situated in the area in which they will operate,” Mr Johnson said "As a general rule, each works in a group of schools and is available on call by the headmaster of any school who seeks her services. Requirements for Appointment "This service has been restricted' to women teachers in New Zealand so far. Appointing authorities recruit them from the ranks of skilled and experienced staff. Most have worked with senior pupils, and in the majority of cases a good academic background is called for. Above all is required a broad understanding of human nature, a capacity to work with others and emotional maturity.” Mr Johnson (aid. "Though women only have been employed in this work up to the present time, it is considered by some members of the teaching service itself that there might be circumstances under which a male visiting teacher could do effective work,” Mr Johnson said. “Although it is. realised that the service a visiting teacher can render could, ideally, be done by the class teacher, this is not always practicable because of the large numbers of pupils in schools, the amount of travelling that would be involved, and the difficulty of seeing parents who are both away from home. “In the smaller country school, where a more intimate relationship

exists between teacher and parents, the teacher is in effect the visiting teacher For the most part she will know well every parent of her pupils, and therefore any outside official liasion is unnecessary,” said Mr Johnson.