ORGANISING TEACHERS

Northern Advocate, 20 September 1921, Page 3

ORGANISING TEACHERS

PROTEST AGAINST REDUCTION.

The move contemplated by the Education Department in the direction of reducing the number of organising

teachers came in for some comment or protest, at the hands of the Taranaki Education Board, when very strong opinions were expressed, not merely against the reduction of the number of such teachers, but also that with a viewto increasing efficiency and better serving fhe interests of the children of the back-blocks more organising teachers should be appointed.

In the course a report to the board, the Teachers' Selection Committee expressed the opinion that it would not be in the interests of education that the control of organising teachers should be placed in the hands of the Public Service Commissioners. They also recommend that the department be informed that in the opinion of this board the number of organising teachers in the Taranaki district is the minimum that can be done with if the efficiency of the small schools is to be maintained, but it is possible that if no material change, in the teaching staff occurs in the meantime, by the end of 19121' it may appear that a reduction can be made.

In speaking to the recommendation Mr White (chairman) said the appointment of the organising teachers was one of the foremost steps made by the department in the direction of providing the best facilities for education in the back-block districts. In a district such as Taranaki it was very difficult to get experienced teachers to 30 into the back-blocks, and in consequence of the number of uncertificated teachers appointed the work of the org misers was the more necessary, as most of those uncertificated teachers gained their experience after appointment. The organisers acted like school masters to these inexperienced teachers, and ensured a better standard of teaching. By their w r ork the organisers had raised the standard of teaching in back-blocks to a degree not even anticipated by those who advocated the reform in the fiTst place. The total cost to the Dominion of maintaining the organising teachers now appointed was £15,000 per annum, and he thought that was some of the money that was most wisely spent by the department. The department had actually proposed to reduce the number of organising teachers in Taranaki from four to one, and it would be remembered that some time ago the board had applied for a fifth teacher. He strongly opposed any reduction in the number of organising teachers.

Mr E. Masters, M.P., said the reform had been welcomed by teachers, and also by settlers in the back-blocks, and he was quite sure the settlers would protest if anything was done to remove these organising teachers. They were doing excellent work, and it would be a huge mistake to disturb the good work being done. There was also the fact that the information given to the board by the organising teachcrs was a most valuable aid in the matter of administration in Tegard to the work in the country districts. He pointed out that one-third of the teachers were uncertificated, and one-third of the children received their education in small schools. The difficulty of getting qualified teachers to go into the back-blocks made it impossible for boards to do anything but appoint teachers of lower grades to these schools, and he would do all in his power to retain the services of the organising teachers at present employed. Ho suggested that the board should adhere to its original intention and effect a transfer of the organising teachers in its district, the idea being when they were appointed that they should change districts at the end of two years. Mr 8. €. Smith, M.P., agreed that tho t i.pointment of organising teachers was a valuable reform, and he promised his best efforts not only to retain the present teachers, but to have the number increased, and he hoped the board would co-operate with other boards in this direction. He protested against the Government selecting the education expenditure as the first mark for its economies in a time of financial stringency. 'Tli? recommendation of tlie commiti toe was adopted unanimously.