UNEMPLOYED TEACHERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3803, 1 February 1927, Page 74

UNEMPLOYED TEACHERS.

POSITION IN WELLINGTON. DEPUTATION TO MINISTER. WELLINGTON, January 26. The unemployment at present prevalent amongst members of the teaching profession, especially in Wellington, and the question of employing single women teachers in preference to married ones were two subjects which occupied the attention of the Wellington Education Board for r considerable time at its meeting to-day. The discussion started when Mr J. J. Clark moved that a return be presented at the next meeting of the board giving the names, ages, grading, numbers, and salaries of all married women in the board’s employ. He pointed out that there were about 60 teachers, for. whom the board could not find permanent employment. Was it fair that married women whose husbands were, or should be, earning enough to suport .he home should occupy the positions sought by single unemployed teachers? Mr G. T. London said that he hoped the board would not make itself ridiculous by passing, or even considering, the motion. I which was a gross reflection upon married women. . It was no crime, he said, to be married, and the perfect teacher was obviously the one who had the maternal instinct. He suggested that the motion was absurd, as the married teachers already in the erm loyment of the board could not be dismissed simply because they happened to be married. The Chairman (Mr T. Forsyth) answered that the return would furnish valuable information. The married teachers already employed certainly would not be dismissed, but it might be advisable to prevent the appointment of any more married teachers. The opinion was expressed by Mr I’. Robertson that whatever was said to the contrary the male teacher was more effective than the '"emale. When the motion was put to the meeting it was carried, Mi London being the only one o' those present t< vote against it. 'I he motion havin'* been disposed of Mr Forsyth said that the time had come to take serious stock of the situation that had arisen in the teaching profession. What had been anticipated had occurred, and there were now about 60 more applicants for positions in the schools than there were. vacancies. Some, of course, might get intermittent relieving'work, but that was not much good to them. The department, if it did no find work for them was not honouring its side of the bond. Representations to tha department had been answered with bundles of platitudes. The department’s policy was one of “wait and see.’’

“The position,” said Mr Forsyth, “was not created by us. We, therefore, take no responsibility in meeting it.” He added that a solution lay in one of two directions. The department might control the number of teachers being trained, or it might reduce the size of the classes, and thus find employment for more teachers. Mr Clark said that in theory the idea of having a number of surplus teachers at the beginning of the school year was right enough, but in practice it did not work well here. Were the teachers all qualified at the beck and call of the department, but without any pay after the end of this month? He advocated the meeting of the difficulty at once by rescinding the appointments of the 53 new teachers who had just entered the service of the board until the 60 unemployed experienced teachers had had positions found for them. The board resolved itself into a deputation to wait upon the Minister at “.pee in order to place before him the pc and to urge a reversion to the old system of staffing so that employment might be found for the qualified teachers now seeking positions. Later on a deputation from the board waited on the Minister of Education (the Hon. R. A. Wright), and the chairman (Mr T. Forsyth) stated the viewpoint of the board on the matter. The Minister, in reply, said it was necessary to provide a surplus of teachers at the beginning of the year in order that staff needs might be met during the year. This was not a new condition of things, but had always obtained. Apparently, however, this year there was a greater number of students who had finished their studies than usual, and, consequently, the position was more serious. About 15 students were being kept at the Training College for a third year, but 50, 94, or 60 could not possibly be accommodated. In the first place, there was no room for them, and secondly, even if there were room, such students would derive very little benefit when at any moment they might be withdrawn. The question raised by the deputation that more of the students referred to should be employed in various schools was one he would go into very carefully with the departmental officers, but at present he was unable to make anj' definite promise regarding the issue. Mr Wright expressed his regret that the present position had arisen, and affirmed that steps must be taken to see that it did not recur by providing that no more students were trained than could be absorbed.