‘New breed’ of teacher needed

Press, 11 September 1989, Page 8

‘New breed’ of teacher needed

By MARITA VANDENBERG Teacher selection procedures to training colleges have changed this year because a new breed of teacher is needed for the 19905, says the coordinator of student selection at the Christchurch College of Education, Mr Roger Murdoch. Mr Murdoch said teachers of the 1990 s would need to be well qualified, sensitive to equity issues, innovative, able to cope with the stresses of change, and have highly developed relating and consulting skills. “Above all we need teachers who put the development of children and young people, and their learning, above all else,” he said. As well as the traditional interview, in an amended form, teaching candidates would perform in more practical situations, said Mr Murdoch. In the early childhood area candidates will take part in group discussion, in primary they would be required to interact with a small group of children, and in the secondary situation will talk about teaching in pairs. Mr Murdoch said broadly representative working parties which included students who went through the old procedure last year, designed the new procedures. This is the first year in which the college controls its own entrants. In the past the responsibility lay with the Education Department and education boards. . “A large group of people is to be involved in the selection process itself. These include principals and senior school staff, staff from early childhood centres, boards of trustees members as well as College staff,” said Mr Murdoch.