DIVISION C TEACHERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22065, 22 September 1933, Page 4

DIVISION C TEACHERS

SUPPLY EXCEEDS DEMAND ATTITUDE OF OTAGO BOARD In regard to the training in the collegs of Division C students (students who take a degree and then enter a training - college for a course of one year, the Otago Education Board recently wrote to the Director of Education (Mr Lowbourne) suggesting that no further students of this class should be trained in 1934, as there would be over 100 of the type looking for work at the beginning of 1034 —sufficient to meet all secondary and primary requirements for New Zealand for the next three or four years. At the meeting of the board yesterday morning a letter was received from the director stating that the department did not regard Division C students as being trained- for employment _in secondary, technical, and district high schools only. While, it was possible that in past years some Division C students might have been, more suitable for secondary than for primary work, the department believed that at least in the past year or two the colleges had aimed at so training those students that they would be qualified to fill positions in either primary or post-primary schools. This year the colleges were paying special attention to this aspect of training. The initial primary grading of the 1931 and 1932 Division C students showed a slightly higher medium under teaching, personality, and organisation than Division A students of the same year. The department was of the opinion that the student who had completed his academic qualifications before entering the training college had the opportunity of, making much better use of the professorial training that the college provided than the student who had to spend a large part of his time preparing for a class C certificate or Jor a degree. After referring to the training of teachers in Scotland and England, the letter of the director went on to state that if the students were wisely selected and if the courses in the colleges were suitably planned, the Division C students should be quite capable of doing good work in either the primary or postprimary schools, and that they would be better primary teachers than they would have been without a degree. It was probably true that a university degree could never make up for lack of natural teaching ability, but that applied no less in secondary than in the primary schools. It was certainly not a reason for discouraging candidates for the teaching service from securing a degree before entering upon their professional training. The chairman (Mr James Wallace) said that they agreed with everything the director said, but he had dodged the complaint that there was an overplus of teachers. “ Facts are duels that winna ding,” said Mr Wallace. Mr W. R. Brugh: He protests too much. After discussion it was decided to thank the director for his letter, but to inform him that his reply did not convince the board, which was still of the opinion that for the next year or two no Division C students should be admitted to the training colleges.