TRANSFER OF TEACHERS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19202, 19 June 1924, Page 3

TRANSFER OF TEACHERS.

FREQUENT CHANGES UNDESIRABLE. TWO YEARS’ LIMIT SUGGESTED. At the meeting of (he Otago Education Board yesterday the question of teachers transferring to otiier schools before they have been long in one school was discussed, following on a letter from the Minister of Education on the subject. The Minister of Education wrote intimating that in order to limit the detrimental effect that frequent changes have upon the instruction in schools, it had been suggested that a teacher should be required to remain at least two years in a position before becoming eligible for transfer to another school. The Minister asked the hoard to consider the question and forward its opinion in order that an amending Bill might, if necessary, bo introduced this session. The proposal in the letter met with general approval. The Chairman (Mr Wallace) said there was one point he would like to stress. Most of (hem were in favour of the proposal. on its general aspects, but Ihcv must remember that it would be a hardship to ask girl teachers in isolated country districts to remain there two years. Twelve months was quite Jong enough so far as they were concerned. In a decent-sized school two years was in the right direction. They had only got to look around and see what happened in some of their big schools to realise the value of the new proposal. The position which had arisen was most unfair. He thought, however, the board should he invested with discretionary powers,—(“Hear, hoar.”) He did not think the proposed amendment should bo a cast iron one. The Secretary suggested the drawing up of a list of schools where the teachers should not be compelled to stay two years. It was decided to approve of the general principle of the proposal, and that the hoard should submit a'list where it did not think it should operate fully.