Hardships For Young Teachers Seen

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31726, 9 July 1968, Page 14

Hardships For Young Teachers Seen

Suggestions by the principal of Linwood High School (Mr J. Orman) for improved conditions for young teachers will be referred by the school’s board of governors to the New Zealand Secondary School Boards’ Association. Mr Orman said that young teachers direct from college faced a teaching load of five

classes, involving 32-33 periods out of 35 in a week, with classes of up to 36. The difficulties of assessing work content, the marking load, preparation, pace, etc., made this year a particularly trying one. This was especially true in science where classes of 36 were put into laboratories designed for 32, he said.

“These teachers should be teaching for about 20 periods a week at the most. I am sure this is a factor in the loss of young teachers from the profession,” said Mr Orman. Mr Orman said there was a pool of part-time and relieving teachers available in places like Christchurch and it was appreciated that the Education Department did not sanction their use when there were shortages in other parts of New Zealand. He said that the plight of the young and inexperienced teacher was, however, a very real one, and one which should concern all connected with effective teaching in secondary schools.