UNEMPLOYED TEACHERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21708, 25 January 1934, Page 15

UNEMPLOYED TEACHERS

NEW RELIEF SCHEME APPROVAL OF THE BOARD Further details of the scheme announced by the Minister of Education, Hon. R. Masters, providing for the engagement of all unemployed teachers as probationary assistants and relieving teachers at a salary of £6O per annum with a boarding allowance of £24 per annum, were received in a memorandum from the Minister at a meeting of the Auckland Education Board yesterday. , It was stated that the department docs not desire that any of the more responsible relieving work shall be allotted to teachers who are paid only at rationed rates. When relieving teachers are called upon to do this work and are able to do it, they should be paid in accordance with the regulations relating, to relieving teachers. • It is suggested that tho board should, from its most efficient and most highly graded unemployed teachers, select a staff of relieving teachers for the various types of positions where they are required. When not so engaged these teachers should be appointed as additional assistants in those schools where thc,y will be most helpful. "I am sure members will agree that this is a move in the right direction," said the chairman, Mr. T. IT. Wells. "While the salary offered is inadequate, it is the best possible under the circumstances. It is much to be preferred that teachers should be employed continuously, both from their own point of view and that of the children."

Members pointed out that under the previous scheme of rationed work at £IOO per annum, many teachers did not earn as much as £6O during tho periods they were employed. Mr. Wells mentioned that when he left Training College he was placed in charge of 90 pupils at a salary of £6O per annum and was very glad of the position.