STUDENT TEACHERS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 78, 25 November 1943, Page 3

STUDENT TEACHERS

RESTRICTION ON MEN PROTEST FROM HAWKES BAY Hastings, Nov. 22. A protest against the action of the Department of Education in directing that not more than one-third of its applicants for admission to the training college next year be men was entered by the Hawkes Bay Education Board, which will also obtain a legal opinion as to whether the department has authority to determine the percentage of men and women applying. The chairman. Mr G. A. Maddison, pointing out that the Hawkes Bay quota next year was 61 and that 60 women and 35 men had applied for admission, said that the education board was going to be blamed for rejecting some of the finest young men from the teaching profession. Men were deprived of the freedom of going into the profession because of regimentation. “Surely, in building up a new nation, we will require the best men, and more men,” he said. "In many country schools there is no place for women, and the department is making it more difficult to get men. Because of this direction of the department we are deprived of the advantages of men who show much promise, and these men are deprived of the right to follow their chosen calling. Whether men or women, the very best should be selected and we should have that right.” Mr H. S. M. Quigley stated that the average teaching life of a woman was three years. Mr W. W. Bird: We should go further and tell the department to make -its own selection. It is impossible to choose men on that basis. Some girls get married while at training college. Mr J. O Musgrave: Has the department the right under the regulations to do this? Mr Maddison: The department determines the number, but whether they determine the percentage I do not know. We will get a legal opinion on the point and will protest to other boards by telegram. I feel that these men are going to be penalised. It is one of the most unfair things I have come across. The board also decided in the meantime to ask the selection committee to allow its selection to remain, irrespective of the department's direction, and to let the selection be based solefy on merit.