“Insufficient” Warning Of Teachers’ Arrival

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30448, 23 May 1964, Page 7

“Insufficient” Warning Of Teachers’ Arrival

The Canterbury Education Board decided yesterday to tell the Education Department that a party of five immigrant teachers from the United Kingdom arrived in Christchurch without sufficient Warning being given for their reception. Mrs C. C. Holland said that this happened after, assurances that it would not happen again. She had seen a photograph of the New Zealand High Commissioner (Sir Thomas Macdonald) receiving the party in London about two weeks before it left for New Zealand, and that showed that the time of departure was known to the New Zealand authorities there.

Mr W. P. Spencer, the board’s secretary - manager, said in his report that the five teachers had unfortunately been misled into believing that they would be able to get jobs in Christchurch, and were naturally disappointed to find bn their arrival that they would be directed to country areas. “To introduce them to the idea of country employment, arrangements were made to take them to a group of country schools in the Ashburton area, and it was very satisfying indeed to find that four of the five were so impressed with the first school visited and with the manner in which they were received by the school committee and staff that we were faced with an unexpected problem—that of deciding who should be allowed to have the position,” Mr Spencer said.

“The committee at one of the schools visited had some second thoughts about the placement in the school of an overseas teacher, but with

the kind assistance of Mr E. S. Ayers agreement was reached.

“Although it appears this group is now quite happy at the prospect of teaching in the country, we are nevertheless taking steps through the Immigration Division to see that those responsible for selecting immigrants in the United Kingdom understand the employment position in our schools.”