TEACHERS AND WAR

Grey River Argus, 23 November 1942, Page 1

TEACHERS AND WAR

P.A. CHRISTCHURCH, Noy. _2L The serious situation in which 'the Canterbury Education Board was placed ovjng to the absence of so many of the mule teaching staff in the forces was emphasised at the meeting by the chairman, Mr Stanley Smith.,, “The position is now reallv acute,” .ho said. “It is time that the public knew it ” Nearly 60 per cent, of the mon teachers were now away, he said, “but a big percentage of the staff was over military age and had not been allowed to go to the war. Therefore, actually about 90 per cent, of the whole who were eligible had gone into the forces. In consequence, owing to a lack of masculine control, there wore signs that the work in tho schools was not as good as it had been formerly. The board, he contended, was quite justified now in asking for exemptions; the situation, otherwise, would become increasingly serious. It was true that women teachers who had married before tho war had rendered help, but in mancases they were working under difficulties. “Quite a number of these married women teachers found that the meth, cds used nowadays are entirely different from the teaching to which they had. formerly been accustomed ” Mr Smith added. “Nevertheless, they have done a wonderful job/' Members of the Board were informed that Appeals for 68 teachers and four manual instructors had been heard, and that, with the exception of five, all had been adjourned sine die. Decision was reserved in the cases of four teachers who particularly* wished to enter the ’Armv in snite of the Board's representations The other teacher concerned was.already in the forces and the appeal lodged for him was dismissed.