“INJUSTICE TO CHILDREN”

Taranaki Daily News, 12 July 1933, Page 6

“INJUSTICE TO CHILDREN”

RATIONING OF TEACHERS CHANGE IN SYSTEM ADVOCATED. PROTEST FROM CENTRAL SCHOOL. “I am gravely concerned about the lowered efficiency of the work of the school brought about by the employment of rationed teachers for short time periods,” stated Mr. D. P. Evans, headmaster of the Central school, in ■ his report to tire school committee last night. “I maintain that no teacher, however enthusiastic or skilful, can make satisfactory progress under such .conditions,” continued Mr. Evans. “It takes an experienced teacher a considerable time to become familiar with the pupils and the methods employed in teaching. So how much more difficult it must be for these young and inexperienced teachers. The system employed is vicious in principle in that to give employment to a teacher at a muniflcient salary of about £3O per year, a class, say, of fifty pupils, is sacrificed. “I say nothing of the unfortunate extrainees, for the great majority have ability and work conscientiously under a serious handicap. As the representatives of the parents I think that it is the duty of a school committee to consider this question seriously, and to ask the Government to devise some scheme whereby ex-trainees can be employed without such serious interference with the progress of our young charges.” The chairman, Mr. F. A. Coleman, considered that the constant changes were undoubtedly impairing the efficiency of the school. The children really lost a month eve/y three months when the “rationed” teacher was becoming acquainted with the children and the headmaster and his methods. The results would eventually go through every class. Mr. J. O. Turner stated that the system was a rank injustice to the children. They should be considered above everything else, and were entitled to every consideration from tire department and the government. Mr. Evans, supplementing his report, emphasised the seriousness of the position. He would probably have to fail a much larger percentage than in previous years, and through no fault of the children. It was quite impossible under the present system for a headmaster to establish any real contiguity of his methods. At present he was having to use an undue part of his time in attempting to bring these classes up to standard, to the detriment of general supervision of the work of the whole school.

Members of the committee were quite unanimous as to the injustice of the system, and the following resolution was passed: “This committee desires to protest most strongly against the constant changes in the staff involved by the present system of rationed teachers for short periods. Such charges are most detrimental to the best interests, and the department is urged to formulate,, some scheme more just to the scholars. A copy of tljis resolution is to be sent to all the committees of the town schools.