RATIONED TEACHERS

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 19 September 1934, Page 11

RATIONED TEACHERS

POSITION IN TARANAKI REPORT OF SENIOR INSPECTOR CHANGES DURING YEAR. In accordance with the board’s resolution the. senior inspector (Mr A. Bain) submitted a report at yesterday’s meeting in New Plymouth of the Taranaki Education Board on the employment of rationed teachers. Of the 88 unemployed ex-trainees at the beginning of the year 23 were appointed in lieu of probationary assistants and 65 additional assistants. The former, being regarded as effective members of the school stairs, were allocated in acordance with schedule I. of the staffing regulations. Eixpept in two • cases where the circumstances of the school did not permit, they were placed in charge of classes, full opportunity being thus afforded them of acquiring professional experience, as was the case before the necessity for a rationing scheme arose. The normal term of service of probationary assistants was a year, but under existing conditions, with salary at the rationed rate, they were free to apply for permanent positions at any time. The number permanently appointed to date was three.

Of the 65 additional assistants originally placed, four left the service for various reasons, 15 had been appointed to permanent positions, while at the end of the second term 20 were on the relieving teacher list, leaving 26 still functioning as additional assistants.

To date 41 schools had had the benefit for varying periods of the services of additional assistants, considerations of economy, efficiency and professional training governing the allocation. Permanent appointments from the ranks of both additional and probationary assistants, relieving appointments from the ranks of additional assistants and alterations in the relative claims of schools had necessitated from time to time transfers and withdrawals, temporary and permanent. In effecting these changes care was taken to reduce to a minimum the disturbance of existing school organisations.

In order that additional assistants might receive the full benefit of a year’s practical training head teachers were advised by circular to utilise fully their special qualifications, and wherever possible to give them definite responsibility in connection with the teaching of classes or groups. It was satisfactory to note that the headteachers concerned had faithfully discharged their responsibilities and the ex-trainees appeared to have appreciated the more or less general arrangefnent in accordance with which they had been given a definite sphere of activity.

Owing doubtless to a lack of understanding of the temporary nature of additional assistant appointments a number of applications had been received from committees for increased acomodation, subdivision of rooms, extra heating, etc. These applications had been given the customary sympathetic consideration, but naturally the granting of all requests would have involved the board in unjustifiable expenditure. The scale of payment of rationed teachers relieving in grade I. positions had come in for some criticism. Regarding this, Mr Bain pointed out that the arrangment operated to the benefit of rationed teachers as a whole. Moreover, it was an essential principle of the rationing scheme formerly operating as was the provision for payment at scale rates for more responsible relieving work. It was significant that the teachers most concerned, viz., the rationed

teachers, had made no complaint regarding grade I. relieving rates. They realised the value of the experience and appreciated the fact that employment was guaranteed for the year. The report, it was explained, had been referred to the Minister of Eldu cation by the chairman of the board, Mr S. G. Smith, M.P., and a letter was read from the Director stating that the procedure to be taken in the case of schools that had risen or fallen in grade was determined by the Education Act and the Finance Act, and that the Minister was therefore unable to intervene in the manner suggested in the report. The chairman and Mr Valentine expressed the opinion that the department was not fully seized with the magnitude of the whole business and it was decided to ask that the question be reconsidered. The chairman was also requested to make further representations to the department and it was also resolved to communicate with other boards and to forward them copies of the report.