EARLIER ADVICE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22363, 23 June 1947, Page 2

EARLIER ADVICE

TEACHER TRAINEES BOARD’S ADVOCACY ATTRACT CANDIDATES “We are not giving sufficient publicity to the fact that it is a profession—and a good profession at that,” said Mr. A. H. Sivewright at a meeting of the Hawke’s Bay Education Board in Napier on Friday, when earlier selection of candidates for the teaching profession than that afforded by the present system was advocated. The discussion was launched by the receipt of a letter from the Canterbury Education Board dealing, with the “dangerous situation” which, it was said, must confront the service within the next few years. Banks and Public Service Mr. H. S. M. Quigley said that there was significance in the steps taken by the banks and the Public Service, to obtain the services of boys and girls on leaving school. “The. Income Tax Department, for instance, is starting up in Napier next week,” said Mr. Quigley. “No doubt they will be on the look-out for candidates, if only to save them having to pay board for other members.” , Mr. Quigley added that more prompt advice should be given to prospective trainees. that they had been accepted for the teachers’ training college. “If they knew that they were going to be accepted they would hold on and not enter other professions with an assured position,” he said. Canon G. B. Stephenson supported this view, adding that suitable boys and girls on leaving school should be encouraged to pledge themselves early to the teaching profession. A motion proposed by Mr. T. A. Coleman was approved that the board should support the Canterbury Education Board’s representations to the department. Among the proposals advanced by the Canterbury board are suggestions that the Minister should inform blards at a much earlier date in the year than is usually the custom of the number of students to be admitted to the training college each year; that arrangements should be made for the early interview of intending applicants so that they may know something of their prospects; and that candidates who are sitting for the university and school certificate examinations should be permitted to apply for entrance to college. It was also disclosed that the Canterbury board favoured the establishment of a fifth training college, but the Hawke’s Bay board deferred its decision on the question of supporting this proposal