The Stratford Evening Post. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1912. SHORTAGE OF TEACHERS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 32, 1 October 1912, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1912. SHORTAGE OF TEACHERS.

Dealing with that very grave problem —the shortage of teachers—the “Lyttelton Times” expresses regret that 1 did not receive more attention when the Education Department estimates were under discussion in the House, and goes on to mention that the Hawke’s Bay Education Board recently failed to secure one application for eleven vacant positions on its teaching staff and that similar difficulties are being reported from many parts of the country. The full seriousness cl the position can be realised when it is remembered that the dearth of teachers exists in spite of the readiness of the Boards to give employment to people whose qualification® for their important duties are very far from v'hat they ought to be. The returns submitted to Parliament by the Minister of Education show that the number of teachers employed in the primary schools last year was 3814, and of this total 2783 possessed certificates. A proportion of the others were partially qualified, but- no fewer than 705 had “ho recognised examination status.” Practically, it is -shown, all the teachers belonging to this group were to be found in tire small country schools where one teacher is given sole charge of from eight or ton to thirty-five children and is expected to conduct the work of all the standards. The proportion of women teachers, already very large, is showing a tendency to advance, and though this in itself certainly should not be regarded as a calamity, the “Times” fears this is in indication of the effect of small salaries. Tlie average salary in the case of the women is considerably lower than that of the men. The officers of the Department state that the number of certificated teachers is increasing steadily and no doubt this is so. But at the present time many thousands of children are not securing the educational advantages that the State seek® to provide because the supply of really competent teachers is woefully insufficient and there seems to lie no immediate prospect of an improved

state of affairs unless Parliament resolutely faces the quost’on.