UNEMPLOYED TEACHERS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 253, 22 September 1933, Page 12

UNEMPLOYED TEACHERS.

QUESTION OF RATIONING. A CONFERENCE SUGGESTED. A suggestion from the Otago Education Board that a conference be held next month for the purpose of evolving an improved scheme of rationing of work for school teachers next year was opposed by the Wanganui Education Board at its meeting on Wednesday. “I am opposed to spending money on a conference,” said the chairman (Mr E. F. Hemingway). “The position with regard to unemployed teachers is most unfortunate. The suggestion has been made that the classes should be made smaller, but if you do that you are faced immediately with the need for increased accommodation, and the public is not likely to support that. What is wanted in New Zealand to-day more than anything is economy in everything. We will begin to get back to normal when we economise everywhere. We have been too extravagant in the past. I don’t see that we could do any good at a conference —spending three or four days talking.” Mr J. Aitken: I quite agree with you, but I think economy, hits almost reached bedrock. The secretary (Mr J. H. S. Bree) submitted the following report with regard to unemployed teachers in the Wanganui education district at present, and as to what the position is likely to be at the beginning of next year: “Since the beginning of the current year the number of unemployed has decreased somewhat, owing to certain teachers having secured permanent positions and others having left the service or transferred to other districts. The actual number of certificated teachers without permanent positions is now reduced to 108. At the beginning of 1932 there were 21 students from this district admitted to the Training College and the majority of these will have completed their Training College course at the end of the "current year, and at the beginning of 1934 will be without employment. I, therefore, estimate that the number of unemployed teachers at the commencement of next year will be 130, made up as follows:—Present number, 108; leaving Training College, say, 18. (Note: Although 21 students' were admitted in 1932, it is reasonable to suppose that at least 3 will be retained for a third year for purpose of specialisation); balance of 1931 students retained for third year, say, 4; estimated number at January 1, 1934, 130. “It is gratifying to note that so far as ex-Training College students are concerned, the position at the beginning of 1934 is likely to be slightly better than at the commencement of the current year. As againust this, however, it should be remembered that during 1934 there will in all probability be a considerably lesser number absorbed in permanent positions owing to the fact that by reason of the raising of the school age and the consequent fall in the grades of some schools, a number of teachers at present permanently employed will lose tlreir positions. These teachers are in the main considerably higher graded than the average ex-student and will consequently have first call upon any vacancies in the service which may occur. As far as can be seen at the present time, five teachers will definitely lose their positions at the end of this year, while the present indications are that several others may be displaced during 1934. It will thus be seen that the opportunities for exTraining College students to secure permanent appointments are likely to be limited for some little time to come. “At the present time there is a number of vacant positions to which it is inadvisable to appoint permanent teachers owing to the probable fall in the attendance of the schools concerned. These positions are being filled temporarily by. relieving teachers under the rationing scheme. It is difficult to say at the present juncture how many of these will still be available next year, as the average attendances for the current term will have a definite bearing on the position. But it is reasonable to anticipate that at least 12 such vacancies will require to be filled by relieving teachers next year. In addition to these positions, there will be 30 probationary assistants’ positions, and possibly seven or eight ‘additional’ assistantships. The total number of vacancies, therefore, which should be

available for relieving teachers at the beginning of next year is as follows: Ordinary relieving positions, 12; probationary assistants, 30; additional assistants, 8; total, 50. “In the event of the scheme for the rationing of work being continued next year, it should be possible to provide at least one term’s work for each unemployed teacher. In view of the fact that with the exception of, say, three third-year students, the final draft of trainees will leave the Training College at the end of this year, the position in regard to nnemploymetn should steadily improve as from the beginning of 1934 so far as this district is concerned.”