TEACHING PROBLEMS

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 12902, 1 July 1936, Page 8

TEACHING PROBLEMS

TRANSFERS TOO FREQUENT SHORTAGE IN TARANAKI «Press Association). NEW PLYMOUTH, June 30. .Frequent transfers <of teachers, especially those in solo-teacher schools werct condemned by the annual conference of the Taranaki School Committees Association, at New Plymouth last night. The conference adopted a remit Asking th© Minister• oS Education to dcviysei a method of obviating such transfers, because of the detrimental effect on tho children. Many of the delegates, ©specially those from the country, quoted instances of how children had been adversely affected. “It is time the country schools should have some cousideilaition,” said Mr. J. N. Bryant (Awakino), in moving that children studying for the proficiency examination were not given a chance. Something should he dono to omsiurei that country schools ishould retain their staffs until the 'end. of lire year. Mr. G. L. Gfay 'said he understood from tho secretary of the education board that the Kom school had boon’ without a teacher for two days. The teacher bad ben. transferred in tho middle of the present term. “May I be allowed, to support the remit,” said tbo Minister of Education, the Hon. P. Fraser, •amidst laughter. Common senso indicated that such a position was not beneficial to the children.; said the Minister, but the Education Department was alive to the. position. The present system could not be defended,, but the problem was what to do. They could not go back to the system obtaining before the present system.

A solution might lie in a salary sy.s-" tem combined with the grading of teachers. It might bo that such .a system would obviate frequent changes. The position was going to. become worse, sa:d Mr, J.. A. Valentino, the chairman of tlio.' Taranaki Education B'oalrd. The reintfoduetkm/.. of .the fivd-yoar-old l 'pupils - uneant - a bigger demand for teachers, and the board hlad been taken , into M servico many J mari-iecl wonien ' teachers,/, t: and ••. was glad to get'them. ' ; q , . ‘ ‘We will do our best- to deal with the matter,’’ said the Minipteh, Lin reiterating, that .the .department was studying (lie problem, '