TEACHERS' PLIGHT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21641, 6 November 1933, Page 10

TEACHERS' PLIGHT

MANY WITHOUT POSITIONS STAFFING CHANGES URGED REDUCING LARGE CLASSES The serious nature of unemployment among teachers is reviewed by the executive of the New "Zealand Educational Institute in a supplement to its official organ, National Education. It is stated that, allowing for 300 retirements, there will be more than 1700 teachers out of permanent positions at the beginning of 1934 unless something is done to remedy the position. It is stated that there may bo up to 500 probationary assistant positions and approximately 300 relieving teachers required, but these teachers would not bo in permanent employment. Those employed under the rationing scheme had received approximately only £SO for the year. It was unreasonable to grant a fixed sum of money under a scheme and then divide the teachers into it as if they were pawns and not human beings.

The State was guilty of a breach of confidence toward teachers if staffing economy resulted in unemployment, and the responsibility for bringing about equilibrium between the supply and demand devolved on the State alone. The Education Department was seel.ing to regulate the supply of teachers to an estimated and planned demand, and to this end two training colleges had been closed, while a third was to close at the end of the year.

However, the fact remained that in the transitional period severe hardships were being inflicted in the desire to effect immediate and substantial economies. A saving of £1,374,000 had been made on an education vote of £4,174,000, and it was felt that a small part could be given back to mitigate the severity of the hardships caused by the Government's change cf policy. There were 1845 classes of more than 40 pupils in New Zealand schools, and it was claimed it would be a simple matter to adjust the staffing regulations so as to bring about the emplojment of many more teachers. The education service contributed more than £125,000 annually to the unemployment funds and it was not unreasonable to expect that part of this con-, tribution should be made available tor relief work in the schools.