Aims Of Teachers’

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32099, 22 September 1969, Page 14

Aims Of Teachers’

Colleges’ Assn The New Zealand Teachers’ Colleges’ Association may become one of the strongest integrating forces between primary and secondary education services, the president (Mr A. Cargo) told the association’s annual conference in Christchurch at the weekend.

Addressing representatives of an nine teachers* colleges in New Zealand, Mr Cargo said that since last year’s conference the association had applied for recognition as a Government Service Organisation under the Government Tribunal Act 1985.

“This recognition would bring rights of negotiation on matters of salary and conditions of service affecting teachers’ colleges,” said Mr Cargo. “If the association becomes an organisation of legal status equal to other teacher bodies it will seek co-operation with them in a form of federation." he said.

The change in status, however, would involve the association in heavier expenses and increased subscriptions. Mr Cargo said that relations with the Department of Education were healthy and that exchanges of information with departmental officers frequently took place. In bis concluding remarks, Mr Cargo said the three day conference, opened on Friday, had raised four major issues These were: 1. The need for improved staff-student ratios. The spectacular increase in the size and complexity of teachers’ colleges had brought new demands, in particular for more staff Involved in teaching administration and clerical administration. N.Z.T.CA. policy

was to seek more positions at high level and the creation of the post of dean in both primary and secondary divisions at the Christchurch Teachers’ College was a step in the right direction. 2. The teachers’ colleges, like the schools, felt the need for ancillary staff, provision of more technical and clerical staff to release more highlypaid and qualified professional staff to do the work only they could do 3. The staff of teachers’ colleges, like staff in other educational institutions at tertiary level, derived great benefit from study leave in New Zealand and overseas. The teachers’ college staff, however, were not eligible for scholarships such as the WoolfFisher Award. The N.Z.T.CA. was preparing a case for study leave for staff of teachers’

colleges. 4. The closing of Ardmore i Teachers’ College in Auckland - and the reduction of roll long before then had posed pro- , blems for Ardmore staff. Mr ■ B. Trussell, the president of , the college’s branch of the association. had told delegates of the steps taken to safeI guard the rights of staff when • they were forced to find em- : ployment elsewhere. ’ Officers re-elected at the ■ conference were:—President, s Mr Cargo; vice-president, Mr - R. H. Murray; secretary. Mr - A. Mac. The position of trea- > surer has not yet been filled.