Teacher-quota move

Press, 19 April 1980, Page 6

Teacher-quota move

The Canterbury Education Board will send another letter to the Minister of Education (Mr Wellington) urging him to let the board know where . it stands on teacher quotas. At almost every board meeting in the last six months concern has been expressed that Mr Wellington is destroying teacher morale by creating job uncertainty. The meeting yesterday was no exception. Mr R. F. Armstrong said that he was concerned that Mr Wellington had given no indication whether specialscheme and relieving teachers would be re-employed i next term. He said there were about 35 teachers in schools with special needs and 60 relieving teachers employed in Canterbury at present. Some of the teachers would secure positions for next term and others would be needed to fill relieving vacancies, but there would still be many without jobs, said Mr Armstrong. Many teachers did not fit into the special scheme because they had not taught continuously last year. Those teachers relied on day-to-day relieving work to earn a living. “If Mr Wellington delays his decision as he did earlier this year we will lose more of our teachers to other occupations,” Mr Armstrong said. “I have already emphasised to the board the high cost of training these people, and yet after three years of dedicated teaching we say to

I them ‘there is no job for' !you’. | “I’d like to know what i other State employee works ' under these conditions,” said Mr Armstrong. 1 1 No commercialism J Commercial enterprises are “sneaking” into schools 1 !and upsetting some members; 1 of the board. ! By a majority of one the; [board decided not to support!* a poster-painting com-/ [petition for schoolchildren; [sponsored by Group Rentalsl< New Zealand, Ltd. |1 I The board’s general ser- ! < ; vices committee had pre-, I

viously approved the competition, which would have used the theme “How does TV affect your Life?” Mrs R. J. Cowell moved that the decision be reversed because children would be used in a commercial enterprise. The board chairman, Mr D. L. Waghorn, said that he was concerned that so many [commercial firms were “sneaking through the net” [and canvassing schools without consulting the board. Group Rentals should be commended for approaching the board when so many other groups did not bother, he said.