Mothers Taking Classes In Hutt Valley Schools

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29239, 24 June 1960, Page 12

Mothers Taking Classes In Hutt Valley Schools

WELLINGTON. July 23. In about four primary schools on the fringes of the Hutt Valley, local mothers without previous teaching experience have been called in to take classes for which no teachers are available. This state of affairs has existed in some schools for about a month and in others since Queen's Birthday week-end. A Wellington Education Board spokesman said today he did not expect any great relief till the beginning of the third term when a number of teacher trainees would be certificated Asked about the situation the president of the Hutt Valley Head Teachers' Association (Mr E. H_ McConchie) said there was a staff shortage throughout the valley, but it was most difficult on the fringe areas such as Wainui-o-mata, Stokes Valley and the Upper Valley area where it was difficult to get teachers because of the amount of travelling involved At one school there were three mothers sitting-in on classes with the head teacher “running round' between the three groups to keep an eye on the children and give work In most cases the mothers were

supervising infant classes and were managing quite well, Mr McConchie said. The classes were usually “fairly large" ones. One headmaster was to split a class of 50, with-

(New Zealand Press Association)

out a teacher, into two groups as it was much too big for an unqualified and inexperienced teacher to manage. The mothers had been asked to “hold the fort" till the gap* could be filled. The position could change from week to week, he said. It depended on the number of appli cants for positions, the appointments. and the speed with which the successful applicants could be released from their present positions As well as the mothers there were about 51 >-elieving teachers many of whom were elderlypeople who had had to be persuaded. not without some difficulty. to help out. The Education Board spokesman said the head teachers had asked women whom they knew were good with children and used to youth activities. “We don’t just pick out anybody at random for this work,’ he said. At present about six classes tn the Hutt Valley did not have even a relieving teacher, and in most cases were being taken by the headmasters.

A.A. Membership.—Membership of the Automobile Association (Canterbury) at the moment stood at 44.843, of whom 1396 were unfinancial, it was reported when the association's council met last evening.