The Dominion MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1930. UNEMPLOYED TEACHERS

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 110, 3 February 1930, Page 10

The Dominion MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1930. UNEMPLOYED TEACHERS

It is reported from Auckland that many young teachers who have completed their training and are now eligible for appointment will be unable to find po/tas when the schooh , reopere Th s nrnhlem has presented itself every February for the last lew years, aTdTno ” onZ‘ to AuektaZ Last year Severn ,rf the had unemolovment problems on their hands. Wellington appear. Ms ZTto tave'escaped the trot,Me it expenenced last year, but Auckland expects that it will be much more acute than in any previous year Experience has shown that the difficulty tends to solve itself during the school year. There is a fairly large leakage from the profession, due to resignations from various causes—superannuation is one, women teachers marrying is another—and absences on sw - leave providing temporary relieving appointments. At the same time ’the absorption is not complete. Cases are known of young teachers being on the unemployment list for several years. On teacher in the Auckland district has been waiting six years, for an appointment. This involves loss of position on the Grading List, and, ultimately, postponed benefits of superannuation. Whatever it may have to say by way of explanation, the Department is tinder a moral obligation to-find a remedy.. Young people desiring to enter the teaching profession are required to spend a definite period in a training college, pass qualifying examinations, . and enter into a bond that they will remain in the profession for a specified period on appointment. That puts- them m a somewhat different category from people who are qualifying for other Government Departments. Having completed their training, and presented themselves for service, they ought, in justice, to be given something t 0 Minister of Education has given his opinion that the problem could be solved if the number entering the training colleges were reduced; That would be no solution. If the unemployment existing at the beginning of the school year disappears during the ensuing months, it follows that if the number of trainees were reduced, an actual shortage of teachers would occur. The Department does not desire to risk a shortage because it is under an obligation, in conformity with Ministerial policy, to reduce the size of classes. In point of fact, it is on the horns of a dilemma. There would probably be less difficulty were the Department to control the staffing appointments. In that case it could with greater facility than is at present possible distribute. the available teaching power in whatever direction the demand existed. Pubjic opinion, however, is not likely to regard with favour anything which wonk, have the appearance of intensifying the centralised control of education. Another remedy, and one less open to objection, would be to adopt a more flexible and generous system of staffing which would absorb the unemployed young teachers in positions where they would be enlarging their experience, instead of cooling their heeis in enforced idleness. ■ ~