Questions On Jobs In Teaching

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31449, 16 August 1967, Page 10

Questions On Jobs In Teaching

For two hours last evening, Christchurch education officials replied to questions from potential teaching recruits and their parents at a large public meeting.

Mr E. P. Blampied, actingprincipal of the Christchurch Teachers’ College, said he would give the same answers on attributes required if teaching were virtually a closed profession or if it were wide open as at present:— “If you feel some responsibility for others and have shown it in church work, voluntary service, or public life, we would welcome you. “If you want a useful positive life concerned with the general good, teaching would satisfy you. “If you are Interested In people, you will probably be happy in teaching. “If you like challenge and look for goals to be reached, we would be glad to have you. “If you don’t mind hard work, you will make the grade. “It is an exacting, demanding, and frustrating profession but it is also lively, interesting, and rewarding,” be said.

“It offers security, it is a job that will never wear out, and salaries, although sometimes over-emphasised, are very good at the top. “Standards are continually rising, new exciting methods are being explored, and our whole standard of living will depend on how well we develop the initiative and ingenuity of our young people. “More administrative and technical assistance will inevitably be provided so that teachers are truly professional people. Discipline will become easier because society already is recognising hard work.”

Questions covered almost every aspect of teaching. Some were described as “curly ones.” Asked about withdrawals, Mr F. N. Wylde, district senior inspector of secondary schools, said that of 1000 who resigned in 1965, 350 retired, 250 left to be married, 200 left for university study or travel, 150 went to other branches of education, and in the remaining 100 about 33

technical teachers returned to their trades.

Asked why fewer men than women applied for primary teaching, Mr B. J. Wilson, district senior inspector of primary schools, said he did not know. Prospects seemed bright There was a complaint that music training described did not match statements in a vocational guidance pamphlet. Dr. J. F. Mann, ■rice-princi-pal of the college, and Miss J. Herbison, dean of women, explained that music training options were now built in as a selective option in threeyear training. Mr E. R. Hounsell, university liaison officer, warned that after studying .such genera! information as the pamphlet quoted, interested parties should always go to the specific authority concerned.

“This year’s university calendar is now out of date,” Mr Hounsell said. “Things are changing rapidly in every branch of education.”