SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 116, 14 February 1928, Page 8

SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS

SCHOOL COMMITTEEMEN CONCERNED “CHILDREN UNSETTLED” “Simply monstrous,” were the words used by a member of the School Committees’ Association last night, when discussing the conditions of appointment' of substitute teachers to the £.ll- - School by the Education Department. . . . In a letter to the association the Kilbirnie School Committee stated that there liad been two substitute teachers appointed to the Kilbirnie School this year. These teachers, were instructed that the appointment would continue until January 31, 1929, but that in the meantime they should apply lor any suitable positions which might be advertised in the “Education Gazette. It was stated that this meant that “the classes which these members of the staff taught probably would have a succession of substitute teachers until the conditions affecting the supply and demand of teachers were adjusted ” It was hard to reconcile this procedure wit' hany accepted principle of educational practice, and the children would be disturbed in their work and have their progress affected. Already. one of the substitute assistants had ’received a permanent appointment elsewhere, and a new teacher was ar-. & “Against Our Policy.”

“It certainly is against the policy of this association, a policy which we have advocated for many years, and which has met with some measure of recognition,” said the chairman (Mr. A. Parlane). . , . , The action of appointing such teachers was directly in conflict with the promise given to thirni by the previous Minister pf Education, said Mr. L. Hennessv. “Thev had succeded in obtaining a decision that teachers must stay two years in their situation; now this was set aside. It was not fair that a young fellow just out of training college' should be given charge of a class of 51J or L*o children. . . A member: Are you certain of this? Mr. Hennessv: I am quite certain ol it And this is the < second or third time that it has happened to my particular school. Whatever- class they take that class will suffer Hus system means that our schools are put back a year or more. A member: Mon:! There was no doubt that the appointment of teachers on such terms, was - to the detriment of the school concerned, said Mr. V. Klee. They could not progress if thev were going to have tneir staffs changed every month or “Whole School Unsettled.” The idea of the tag to the appointments was simply monstrous, said Mr. T. McLaren, who represented Kilbirnie School. The whole school was unsettled. It was very unsatisfactory, and no good at all to the children, lhe Kilbirnie committee was also writing to the Wellington Education Board, and would like the help of the association. The teachers should be left for twelve months at least, so that the work of the school could be gone on with. ■ ' Mr. Parlane: Who is responsible, the Department or the board? Members: The Department! Mr. Parlane: We should approach the Headmasters’ Association Mr. N. A, Ingram said that they should be sure of their ground before making anv protest. ■ Mr. McLaren: The board has protested, and can do nothing. At the suggestion of Mr. Klee it was decided to write to the Kilbirnie School Committee and obtain full particulars of the case,’and also to ascertain the views of the Headmasters’ Association. ’