Minister Displeases Teachers

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31359, 3 May 1967, Page 9

Minister Displeases Teachers

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, May 1. The post-primary Teachers’ Association today failed in an attempt to persuade the Minister of Educaion (Mr Kinsella) to agree to ' proposals which the association claims could eradicate the present staffing shortage in secondary schools, the association president (Mr J. S. Webster) said tonight.

In its second meeting with the Minister in 10 days, the association approached Mr Kinsella over the recommendations on class sizes made by the Currie Commission set up by the Government in 1962. The commission had been set up to report to the Government, but nothing definite had been done in the five years since the report was made, Mr Webster said. “After two interviews within 10 days, no real progress has been made toward implementing the commission’s recommendations. Class Sizes “Our association regards these class sizes as vital for

the welfare of secondary pupils and fifth, fourth and school pupils,” he said. third about 40.) (The commission recom- On March 21, Mr Webster mended that secondary school gave the Minister proposals class sizes should be 20 for for a five-year plan to combat sixth forms and 30 for .fifth, the present staffing situation, fourth and third forms. Aver- which he described as “critiage sixth-form classes at pre- cal.” sent accommodate about 30 It advocated the cutting of

sixth form class sizes as quickly as possible, the fifth forms in 1970 and fourths and thirds in 1972. Not Satisfied But Mr Kinsella offered only to allow the association to hold discussions with officers of the Education Department. Members of the association were dissatisfied with this reply and called fof today’s meeting. "Such an offer is worth very little while Mr Kinsella refuses to accept, even in principle, the need to adopt the Government’s own recommendations,” Mr Webster said. “We therefore intend to take the matter to the Prime Minister at a suitable time as we are alarmed at the harmful effects this negative response will undoubtedly have on the children of this country.”