STAFFING OF SCHOOLS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3804, 8 February 1927, Page 50

STAFFING OF SCHOOLS.

COUNTRY APPLICANTS REQUIRED. POSITION OF MARRIED WOMEN TEACHERS. t AUCKLAND, February 2. '. An educational standard should 'not in all cases be the main factor in selectapplicants, as it often operates against more suitable candidates who have not the advantages of the highly-specialised instruction available to those attending the large secondary schools.” submitted Mr A. Burns, chairman of the Auckland Education Board, at a meeting of the board to-day. Mr Burns proposed that a proportion of the vacancies in the schools should be set aside for candidates from the district of the D certificate or matriculation examination. , This would ensure getting a type of teacher used to country conditions. Experience of the service went to show that the most highly educated person did not always make the most successful teacher. Some splendid applicants were in the country, declared Mr Burns, and they should be placed in positions. It was very disheartening for boys or girls who put in lour or five years at a secondary school with the niain object of becoming teachers to have their . applications declined, teachers were wanted for the country because difficulty was experienced by the board in obtaining sufficient town* educated boys and girls to go out to the smaller schopls. This year the board had taken the liberty of appointing a few country applicants, but the regulations did not provide for this, and if the regulations were rigidly adhered to scarcely one country applicant would have been appointed. The successful applicants included the names of a number of candidates from private schools as well. Mr F. A. Snell considered the position was aggravated by retaining married women teachers in the service. He said that the young people were put to a good deal of expense in qualifying, and it was pot fair that they should be prevented fi om getting positions when married women whose husbands were earning a IV Ti| lg ?y ere in tbe employ of the board. Air Burns replied that the question was taken up by the education boards of New Zealand, and a request'was made to the department to have legislation passed giving the boards discretionary powers in the appointment of married women teachers. “The board does not wish to make it compulsory for all married women to resign, Baid Mr Burns, in explaining tlie attitude of the Auckland Education Board.

It was decided to send. the chairman’s report and recommendations to the 1 department in Wellington. The board agreed not to suggest a definite percentage as to the employment of probationers from the country, . The secretary was asked to prepare a report upon the number of married boatd” tcache . rs ln thc ‘ employ ,of the