TRAINING COLLEGE STUDENTS

Evening Star, Issue 20972, 10 December 1931, Page 6

TRAINING COLLEGE STUDENTS

APPOINTMENT OF PROBATIONERS __ I. DISCUSSION BY EDUCATION BOARD. In view of the Education Department’s policy in regard to the appointment of Training College probationers under division B (paying students), Mr J. Wallace (chairman of the Otago Education Board) tendered the advice at this morning’s board meeting that parents who could afford it should send their sons, especially if they had higher leaving certificates, to the University for three years before the students finished up with a year at the Training College. The subject was introduced as the result of the letters from the department, which wore considered together. The first of the letters, all of which were written in reply to inquiries by the board, said that in the matter of the appointment of probationers for 1932 the department stated that, in the event of probationers being appointed in 1933, it would bo necessary for the board to select the most suitable applicants. Preference to 1931 applicants could not therefore be assured. Further, it regretted that it could not consider favourably the board’s suggestion that half the usual number of probationers bo appointed during 1932 without remuneration. The department- intimated, also, that a student who entered the Training College under division B for a year would be eligible for selection for appointment as a probationer. A student so selected would, at' the conclusion of his probationer appointment, still require to complete a full twoyears’ course of training under division A. In the matter of admissions to the Training College in 1932 the department intimated that it could not approve of the extension of the probationerships of probationers who were not selected for admission to the Training College next year. The letter regarding Division B students stated that the department would be glad if intending students under this division were informed that if they entered Training College without previous experience as teachers they could receive a certificate only after completing two years of satisfactory work at the Training College and passing the Training College entrance examination, and also by completing one year as adult teachers in any registered school. They should be given to understand that neither the Education Board nor the department could guarantee them employment as teachers after they had finished their training, nor could they be regarded as having any claim whatever on the State for employment. It was anticipated that in general such students would train for service in private schools, and there was very good reason why, in the public interest, opportunity should be given for private schools to secure the services of teachers who had received some professional training. As the lack of a certificate would not, be a bar to the employment of these young teachers in private schools, it was not considered that withholding of the certificate until they had completed one year as adult teachers was imposing any undue hardship upon them. It was anticipated that the private schools would gladly avail themselves of the opportunity to secure the services of trained teachers. After these students had completed their probationary year of service and had received the certificates they would, of course, be graded, and might then come into competition with other teachers in 'the open market. , The Chairman said the best advice he could give parents was to send their sons to the University first if they could afford it. .After three years there tho students could finish up with a' year at the Training College. A Member; And if they cannot afford it; what then? Mr Wallace: If they cannot afford it I am afraid they will have to find their sons work somewhere else. My advice is for students not to go into the training college under division B. Some of them will bo able to get portion of their University fees paid by obtaining a higher leaving certificate at ! the High School. Mr Horn objected to the idea on tho ground that the poor man’s son would j not get so good a chance as the rich ] man’s son. He stated also that the country boys would be at a disadvantage. Mr Wallace answered that the,board at no time made any distinction between town and country. Fourteen of their probationers had been denied admission, and this was the reply of tho department. The Hon. D. T. Fleming: It is hardly satisfactory. Mr Wallace: Wo are doing our best. All three letters were received.