Unemployed Teachers

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 182, 29 April 1933, Page 13

Unemployed Teachers

Sir, —On several occasions of late public attention has been drawn to (1) tbe need for an extension of the free kindergarten system, (2) the spread of unemployment among school teachers, (3) the difficulty of finding tenants for shops, especially small suburban shops. So far, however, these facts have not been considered together or in relation to one another. 1 would suggest that the grouping of them points to a solution of tho first problem, a partial solution of the second, and a means of making the best of the situation created by the third. Assuming that numbers of school teachers arc in the ranks of unemployed relief workers, I would suggest that the Education Board should establish free kindergartens staffed by unemployed teachers as relief workers, the infant schools to be conducted in suitable suburban shop premises obtained at a nominal rental and furnished from the department’s spare stocks of desks, chairs, blackboards, etc. To’my mind this would kill several birds with one stone. It would provide kindergartens at a minimum of expense, it would enable teachers on relief work to “keep their hands in,” in congenial fashion, and it would give owners of nowempty shops a few shillings to help compensate for the lack of adequate rentals. In every suburb suitable shops are standing vacant. 3'o avoid jeopardising the owners chance of letting at the market rental, special leases could be arranged and the use of permanent fixtures .and furnishings avoided. I commend tho idea to those in authority.—l am, etc.. EXPEDIENT. Wellington, April 27.