SHOPPING LEAVE FOR ISOLATED TEACHERS

Northern Advocate, 15 March 1948, Page 2

SHOPPING LEAVE FOR ISOLATED TEACHERS

SEVERAI/'instances where* teachers had not been able to attend to personal shopping for periods of up to three months while they had been teaching in isolated country districts were brought forward at the annual meeting of the Whangarei branch of the New Zealand Educational Institute. This was one of the reasons why difficulty was now being experienced with the staffing of country schools, it was stated.

In some country areas in Northland it was necessary for teachers to walk a considerable distance and then catch a launch which conveyed them to within 15 of 20 miles of a town. - It was just impossible for these teachers to undertake personal shopping and one case was mentioned where a teacher had been unable to obtain a haircut for months. SUGGESTED SOLUTION A resolution, that to allow teachers in isolated districts to attend to essentia] shopping, regular shopping leave be granted, the extent and frequency of such leave to be determined by the visiting inspector, the chairman of the local school committee and the teacher, with power to assess and decide each case on its merits, was passed. It was pointed out that each case for shopping leave would have- to be considered individually as there were cases where transport ran to allow teachers in country districts to undertake their shopping on the late Friday nights.

the Auckland Education Board, and a successful means of analysing and leaching unanimity on teaching problems common to the schools of the/ North. Mr Mabbett continued with an explanation of the scheme and its operation, giving instances of a wide variety of material discussed with the board by federation representatives. INFECTIOUS DISEASES

All the remits sent to the annual' conference by the branch last year had been passed, continued the report, the remit on the diphtheria infection danger to teachers being amended to include all infectious or contagious diseases.

Three remits were forwarded this year, the first being a reiteration of the institute’s request that leave on full pay be granted to all teachers contracting infectious or contagious diseases in 'term time, without loss of regulation sick leave. The other two concerned suggestions to the national body to make membership more attractive, and a scheme to allow teachers in isolated areas time to attend to essential shopping at regular intervals. A credit balance of £23/14/8 on the year’s working was announced. NEWSLETTER An increased service for country members unable to attend regular meetings was discussed at some length. The difficulties and problems that beset a sole charge teacher in an isolated school were stressed by several speakers, who, pointed out that, in larger schools, these matters could be discussed and experiences pooled. A newsletter prepared by the secretary to cover institute activities and keep members in touch with each other was finally decided on. Appreciation of the work carried out in the schools of the district by Miss M. Dunbar, physical education specialist, was expressed by several members. She will be officially farewelled.

“The teachers did not introduce the 40-hour week and I believe it is up to the Government to find a workable solution,” said Mr H. C. Mabbet. OFFICERS ELECTED

Mr R. L. McNabb, headmaster of the Whau Valley School, was elected president of the Whangarei branch of the NZEI, at the annual general meeting of the branch held at Whangarei. About 80 teachers from the district attended. Other officers elected were:—Vicepresidents, Messrs H. Mabbett" and N. F. Oram; hon. secretary, Mr I. N. Menzies; hon. treasurer, Mr W. D. Teesdale; . management committee, Mrs M. M. Allan, Misses M. H. Dwen, and, S. Tdbsdale, Messrs E. N. Ward, F. Milner, C. Reed, A. F. Larcomb, and F. H. Cotton; hon. auditor, Mr C. C. Tills; delegates to Northland Federation of Branches, Miss Dwen, Messrs 1 McNabb, Mabbett and Menzies; dele--1 gate to Dominion conference, Mr ] Mabbet. i SPECIALIST TEACHERS

One’major report was prepared by the branch during the year, said Mr Mabbett.

This' was a comprehensive one on the avennes of promotion for the specialist teacher, undertaken at the request .of the Northland Federation, and since approved not only by that body but also by the Auckland Provincial Federation. The federation scheme, now in its second year .was proving a very useful link between the widely separated and diversified schools of the province and