SURPLUS OF TEACHERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19512, 16 December 1926, Page 16

SURPLUS OF TEACHERS.

NUMBERS WJTHOdr POSITION SITUATION IN WELLINGTON. CRITICISM OF DEPARTMENT. [B4. TELEGRAPH.—OWN COK.MKSPON.DENT. ] WELLINGTON* ■Wednesday, The surplus of trained teachers was a. subject, -which came up for discussion at, to-day's meeting of the Wellington Education Board, It arose out of a brief item on the order naper, which read as follows: " Training college funds do not at present allow for further accommodation to be provided." The chairman, Mr. T. Forsyth, M.P., 6aid that 'for some years the Wellington Training College had been overcrowded. Smaller classes and more teachers to train the students had been anticipated, but. hopes in this direction had not been altogether fulfilled. There were still often two teachers in one room. The position now was that the college was turning out more teachers than the number for whom, employment could be found. There were approximately 50 teachers from the training college who could sot be placed, and were receiving no, payment. " I say deliberately that the bond has been broken by the Education Department, and it is an open question whether there is not good ground .for action, against the department," Mr. Forsyth said. He was not blaming anyone, in particular in tho Education Department but the matter was a serious one, and he wished to sound a note of warning to parents* as the market for teachers was glutted. He vtnis aware, however; that everyone would not agree with him. Quoting figures to show that the board had done its best by certificated teachers,, the chairman remarked that itext Pebru-' ary there would be between 30 and 40 to whom positions could not be offered. To show what the position was, he said there was one vacancy in a school, right away in the country, for which applications from 35 certificated and four uncertificated teachers had been received. Two years ago the- applications would have numbered about four, and then have been from uncertificated teachers, As the Wellington system. of grading was of a higher standard than that of other centres, fchejr© was an added injustice to. applicants trained in the Wellington college. At present there were 120 applicants, for 50 vacancies for probationer teachers. That showed where they were getting to, continued Mr. Forsyth. He had written to the Education Department oil, the question, a conference had been held* anci the department had announced that it had some scheme to meet the case next February. In the meantime, they were no further forward. The position was bound to be acute for a year or two. No resolution was passed by the hoard, but the opinion was expressed by several members tihai the Education Department,! having obtained the bond from the students, was morally bound to find them employment after completion, qf their training.