SELECTING TEACHERS

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 57, 4 February 1927, Page 10

SELECTING TEACHERS

PLEA FOR COUNTRY APPLICANTS.

AUCKLAND, Feb. 2

“The educational standard should not in all cases be the main factor in selecting applicants as it often operates against more suitable candidates who have not the advantages of the highly specialised instruction available to those attending large secondary schools,” submitted Mr A. Burns, chairman of the Auckland Education Board, at a meeting of tho board to-day. Mr Burns thought that some splendid applicants were in the country, and they should be placed in positions. IF was very disheartening for boys or girls who put in four or five years at a secondary school with the main object of becoming teachers to have their applications declined. This year the board had taken the liberty of appointing a few country applicants, but theregulations did not provide for this, and if tho regulations were rigidly adhered to scarcely one country applicant would have been appointed. Mr F. A. Snell considered the position was aggravated by retaining married teachers in the service. He said that tho young people were put to a good deal of expense in qualifying, and it was not fair that they should be prevented from getting positions when married women, whose husbands were earning a living, were in the employ of the board. Mr Burns replied that the question was taken up by the education boards of New r Zealand, and a request was made to the department to have legislation passed giving tho boards discretionary powers ui the appointment of married women teachers. “The board does not wish to make it compulsory for all married women to resign,” said Mr Burns, in explaining the attitude of the Auckland Education Board. It was decided to send the chairman’s report and recommendations to the Department in Wellington. The secretary was asked to prepare a report upon the number of married women teachers in the employ of tho board.-