Question For Minister On Teacher-Pupil Ratio

Press, Volume C, Issue 29510, 11 May 1961, Page 17

Question For Minister On Teacher-Pupil Ratio

The Canterbury School Committees’ Association is concerned at "the apparent lack of progress" in reducing the teacher-pupil ratio at New Zealand schools, and will write to the Minister of Education (Mr Tennent) asking whether the prediction of the previous Minister that the ratio would be one-to-35 by 1932 is likely, to be achieved. This decision was taken at a meeting of the association last evening when delegates heard a complaint from a Sumner delegate that classes were too large for the teachers.

"I believe that at present the teacher-pupil ratio is one-to-39.2, so it seems almost impossible for it to be reduced to one-to-35 by the end of this year." said Mrs M. A. Rae (Christchurch East). “X think we should ask an extension of teacher-train-ing accommodation throughout the country. I am sure the Government is not taking into account the number of teachers who leave each year

—it cancel, out the increased number being trained ” If all the New Zealand teachers at present overseas were brought baefc. the teaching profession would benefit by about 1000, said Mr A. Greenwood. Overseas trips proved a big drain on teachers. Another problem seemed to be that there were too many relatively small schools being built, said Mrs Rae. "In Um Bryndwr area, for instance, there seems to be a school around every comer. This means that one teacher is lost at each through having to take up a headmaster's duties."

Several delegate, suggested that bonds would induce teachers to stay in the profession.

His experience in the university was that any form of bend was undesirable, said Mr W. Rosenberg. It would probably reduce the intake of teachers. "There seems to be a lack of information on women teachers,” he said. "We often hear that women teachers stay for only a short period, but there must be many married women who come back into the work. In my opinion, a married woman makes a far better teacher.” He suggested that a salary scale similar to that offered in England to married women might encourage them to return to work.