TRAINING COLLEGE STUDENTS OF 1926 STILL UNEMPLOYED.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18419, 22 March 1928, Page 12

TRAINING COLLEGE STUDENTS OF 1926 STILL UNEMPLOYED.

(Special to the “ Star.”) DUNEDIN, March 21. On the subject of unemployed teachers and large classes, the New Zealand Institute wrote to the Otago Education Board stating that it considered the present time, when there were so many unemployed teachers available, a favourable opportunity for considering the present pressing problem of large classes. The senior inspector (Mr F. W. A. Stuckey) said the Department was ttsing up some of the unemployed teachers. The Department had asked the inspectors to report upon cases where it was considered, provided there was accommodation and provided the school could be conducted properly, that additional teachers could be used. It was no use appointing additional teachers merely to fill up the rooms with teachers. Where possible, they were recommending extra teachers. Mr Horn said he had been informed by the secretary that a number of students who came out of the training college at. the end of the year before last had not yet obtained jobs. Those who did not obtain positions did not receive grading marks, while they were out of work, and were thus unfairly treated In comparison with those who obtained work and went up on the grading list. Those high up on the list got the better positions, and the others were left. The time had come when the board should go seriously into the question His idea was that the grading marks should be reduced in order to give those who had not obtained positions a fair start. Something should be done 1 once for those who had spent the

best years of their life in attempting to qualify as teachers. The senior inspector said that most of the young teachers who had been out of work for some time had only D certificates. A D certificate only was no good for new entrants. They would see why the Department was so anxious not to recommend for entrance to the training college those who had not progressed in their studies, and who were not likely to get their C certificates. His advice was that they must study and get their C certificates. Mr Sanderson said there were some who went into the training colleges with good qualifications, but who did not seem to work when they got there. Another member suggested that, the social side of the college distracted stud ents from their studies. The senior inspect™* said it was very often the fault of the student himself that he did not get a job, because he had not taken full advantage of the facilities, of the college. The Hon D. T: Fleming asked if it were a fact fhat students who had come out of the training college at the end of 1926 had not found jobs. The chairman (Mr J. Wallace) : You mean permanent jobs? Mr Fleming: Yes. The secretary (Mr Carrington) said there were still some who had come out of the college in 1926 and who had not obtained jobs. Mr J. H. Wilkinson said the board should take steps to see if it could in duce these young people to improve their positions. It was unfortunalr that, young people should spend years endeavouring to qualify, and that they should now be debarred, from the lowness or their grading, from obtaining work. On the motion of Mr Horn, a committee was set up to inqiiire into the matter and report to the board.