DOUBTS ABOUT STANDARDS FOR NEW TEACHERS

Grey River Argus, 24 March 1949, Page 5

DOUBTS ABOUT STANDARDS FOR NEW TEACHERS

WANGANUI, March 23

Because school rolls are increasing, and there is a heavier demand' on teachers and a shortage of staff, there is a danger of the prestige of the profession being lowered, was the view expressed by the chairman of the Wanganui Education Board, Mr W. B. Tennent, of Palmerston North at the annual conference in Wanganui to-day of the Dominion Federation of School Committees. “There is a great danger that, in order to obtain the number of teachers we require, because of the growing demands, we may lower our standard,” Mr Tennent said. ' “Any lowering of these standards would be most detrimental to the children.” Two influences played a large part in the development of children —the home and the school. Teachers had considerable influence on the child, and rather than lower the standard of the teaching profession, he would prefer to see it raised. Mr Tennent continued. , , “We should come out as a body, with a nolicy of increasing the salaries of teachers, and at the same time, raising the standard ” M’’ Tennent added. “If we made it such that aspiring teachers had to strive to enter the profession, and at the same time increased emoluments so as to make teaching worthwhile as a career I believe we would have made the'very best types of teachers offering.”