THE TEACHING PROFESSION.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 16913, 9 December 1920, Page 3

THE TEACHING PROFESSION.

LACK OF APPLICANTS. IN WELLINGTON DISTRICT. BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT. WELLINGTON, Dec. 8. A disquieting position regarding the future staffing of public schools was disclosed to l the Wellington Education Board to-day by tho secretary. The hoard’s requirements for the ensuing year, said Mr. Stewart, are: Pupil-teachers 25, probationers 45, making a total of 70. The numbers of qualified applicants are 1(1, applicants sitting for examination 6, and applicants without qualifications 2, making a. total of 24. This leaves a. shortage of 4G and this number mav be. increased to 54 if candidates fail to qualify for appointment. In so fur as tho future staffing of our schools is concerned the position thus disclosed is disquieting and propaganda work on the part of the department appears to he urgently necessary in the schools and colleges. The immediate requirements of tho service in connection with pnpil-toachorships can be met by tho substitution of teachers who have completed their training or college course, hut this will necessitate in many eases tho withdrawal of the restriction which allows only ono such substitution in a school. Every practicable means of securing the adequate supply of entrants has been used. Advertisements were inserted in the Wellington, Marlborough and Palmerston papers as early as August last and were repeated in November. District High Schools under tho jurisdiction of the board and secondary schools and technical high schools were circularised at the end of July and again in November. Application forms, copies of advertisements, and conditions,of appointment indicating tho new rates of payment were also distributed, together with a pamplilot issued by tlio Education Department and entitled “Entrance to the Teaching Profession.” In view of all this, the response has been a very poor one and the most unsatisfactory yet received for any year. It appears to he necessary at once to approach the Minister and his department regarding the position, with a view to the appointment of trained teachers in lieu of piipil-tonehers. and the nliotmont'of prohationershins to the sixteen qualified candidates. This will still leave the district 29 short of its full complement of probationers.