Teachers To Discuss Reduced Class Sizes

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28180, 19 January 1957, Page 6

Teachers To Discuss Reduced Class Sizes

After years of negotiations on an improved scheme for the appointment and promotion of teachers, the New Zealand Educational Institute is now free to devote more attention to other issues, and recommendations as important as the appointments scheme (now coming into force) are expected to arise from a conference of the Dominion executive which will be held next week in Christchurch

The Dominion president (Mr C. B. Lewis, of Wanganui) is expected to make an urgent plea for smaller classes when he speaks at the official opening on Monday morning. This is a question on which the institute has always had decided views, but representations have been relaxed a little in recent years because of the shortage of school buildings. With this shortage now being substantially overcome in the primary schools, the teachers are again urging classes of more effi-ciently-workable size. Another matter which is causing concern is housing for teachers, particularly in rural districts. Education boards agree with the institute that problems in filling positions are aggravated by housing difficulties and concerted appeals for action are likely. Teachers were invited last year to give their views on the practical advantages or defects in the several new styles of school building now being erected. This will be the first time that the executive has been able to consider these returns as a whole as a basis for a report to the next full conference.

Most interesting proposal for the institute itself is the scheme to proceed with the erection of “Education House” as new headquarters in Wellington. Architects’ plans have now being completed for a six-storey building on a site above the Hotel St. George at an estimated cost of about £200,000. Apart from its own offices, the institute Intends

to offer tenancies to other organisations interested in education. If all divisions of the Education Department (now widely scattered in Wellington city) were consolidated, there would be room in this building. The institute already has a building fund of £40.000 and the executive will discuss a bond issue so that all teachers may have an interest One feature of the new building will be a theatre to seat about 500 which will be suitable for large educational conferences of all kinds and for educational demonstrations.

Altogether, the executive has 32 items on its agenda for next week, and meetings will continue until Thursday. The practice of holding this January conference for the full executive in different board centres was begun about 10 years ago so that members could become acquainted with local administrators and local problems. This meeting will begin the second round. It is at these meetings that the major business for the annual conferences in May is prepared.