THE TEACHING PROFESSION

Wanganui Chronicle, 21 June 1949, Page 4

THE TEACHING PROFESSION

THE current shortage of teachers is having one good effect: it is compelling the Department to make a new approach to the problem. The Minister of Education, Mr. McCombs, has announced a new scheme designed to attract adults to the teaching profession as a result of this teacher shortage. The move is a good one and is to be commended. The scheme is for applications to be called from adults who feel themselves to be attracted to the teaching profession. This should bring into the teaching profession a wealth of experience of the world which will benefit pupils and react upon all of the teachers. It has been recognised that for a youngster to go to a training college and then to be drafted to a school, with some time spent at a university if he is fortunate, is to canalise experience into too narrow a channel. But how is this to be avoided if specially trained teac'ners are to be provided in sufficient numbers to meet the needs of the schools. The narrowness of experience must be accepted as the price which must be paid. The teac'ners themselves would wish to have a more varied career, but to go out of the profession is to court a limited career when resuming it. A greater flexibility would be desirable, for then a commercial man could go into the school with his practical experience of the market place, and the teacher could learn much by standing behind a shop counter for a few years. The teaching profession is more of a vocation than a profession, but it should be given professional status.. This can best be done by paying its members professional salaries so that they can live as professional men and women. It can also be done by showing that it is a profession into whic'n others may enter and compete and that those who attain success are rewarded by appropriate promotion on pay. . . . An adult recruit is to be given a year’s training at a training college under the new scheme. This will be followed by a piobationary period lasting one year, after which the trainee will be posted to schools as a certified teacher. lie should then have all the advantages enjoyed by the teacher who has commenced his career in the profession such as superannuation benefits, and opportunities for promotion, and no undefined barriers should be permitted to bar progress in this newfound career. The choosing of a' career early in life is desirable wnen this is possible but everyone is not in a position to pursue 'nis own bent nor is he sure of himself enough to make a decision to adopt any particular career. Many very gifted people simply have been compelled to take the job that offered and be thankful. It is nt the ranks of these people that many good teachers are to be found. Wiien they have a liking for such work it is desirable that they should follow it, because it affords so many satisfactions. The help ing to mould young minds, the imparling of right ideas apart from lessons are privileges which some men would do much to be able to enjoy The calling of a teacher is a high one and many men and women would find in it a very satisfying way of living It is to be hoped that t'nev will go forward and explore the possibilities ol this new opening’which necessity has created and which it is to be hoped will always remain open to adults who would be happy in such work.