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Education
Fix this textJournal of the N.S.W. Teachers’ Federation
Fix this textRegistered at the General Post Office, Sydney, for transmission by post as a newspaper.
Fix this textVol. 41. No. 1.
Fix this textFEBRUARY 10, 1960
Fix this textPrice: Threepence.
Fix this textPROPOSED TEMPORARY TEACHERS' COLLEGE
Fix this textThe Federation and the Illawarra Parent-Teacher Education Council are asking that
Fix this textthis building—the former Wollongong Home Science School—be used as temporary
Fix this textteachers’ college accommodation pending the erection of the projected Wollongong
Fix this textTeachers’ College. It is believed that the building will be vacant in the daytime for
Fix this textthe whole of 1960. Picture by courtesy “South Coast Times”.
Fix this text18,000 Signatures in Three
Fix this textDays for New Teachers’ College
Fix this textat Wollongong
Fix this textDuring the last three weeks of
Fix this textthe 1959 school year Federation
Fix this textactivity in the Illawarra area was
Fix this textstepped up to a high level.
Fix this textThe Illawarra and North Illawarra
Fix this textAssociations did a splendid job in
Fix this textpromoting local activity on the
Fix this texturgent need for a teachers’ college to
Fix this textbe established in Wollongong in 1960.
Fix this textTeachers played a major part in organis-
Fix this texting and conducting an intensive campaign
Fix this textwhich was promoted by the Illawarra Branch
Fix this textof the Parent-Teacher Education Council.
Fix this textThe Federation made available to the
Fix this textP.T.E.C. the services of Mr. Hilling, Organ-
Fix this textiser for the Southern Area.
Fix this text18,000 Signatures
Fix this textThe principal activity of the campaign
Fix this textwas the collecting of signatures to a petition
Fix this textasking the Premier and Minister for Edu-
Fix this textcation, Mr. Heffron, to take urgent action to
Fix this textprovide a teachers’ college in Wollongong
Fix this textto serve the southern area. More than 18,000
Fix this textsignatures were obtained in the Wollongono-
Fix this textarea over a period of only three days. Mos*t
Fix this textof the signatures were obtained at the poll-
Fix this texting booths on December 5, where a large
Fix this textforce of workers manned tables from Bam
Fix this textto 8 p.m.
Fix this textAlthough confident that many additional
Fix this textsignatures could have been obtained, the
Fix this textP.T.E.C. decided to make an early approach
Fix this textto the Premier. This was to ensure that the
Fix this textmaximum amount of time could be used to
Fix this textmake arrangements for teacher training in
Fix this textWollongong in 1960. As a result the petition
Fix this textI was delivered to Mr. Heffron on Thursday,
Fix this text| December 17.
Fix this textIdeal Situation
Fix this textThe Illawarra Branch of the Parent-
Fix this textTeacher Education Council believes that
Fix this textWollongong is the ideal situation for the
Fix this textnext teachers’ college to be established in
Fix this textNew South Wales. The area provides an ade-
Fix this textquate number of suitable and qualified ap-
Fix this textplicants for teacher training, and has a wide
Fix this textrange of schools for practice teaching.
Fix this textFurther, there is a vacant school building in
Fix this textSmith Street, Wollongong which could be
Fix this textused temporarily to accommodate the first
Fix this textintake of trainees. The Parent-Teacher body
Fix this texthas particularly requested Mr. Heffron to
Fix this textapprove the use of this building as a tem-
Fix this textporary teachers’ college in 1960. This could
Fix this textbe used until a permanent building is com-
Fix this textpleted on land which has been set aside for
Fix this textthis purpose.
Fix this textSplendid Public Response
Fix this textIn addition to the splendid public re-
Fix this textsponse to the petition, there has been wide-
Fix this textspread support for the establishment of a
Fix this textteachers’ college from organisations in the
Fix this textWollongong area. These organisations in-
Fix this textclude the Chamber of Commerce, trade
Fix this textunions and the Churches.
Fix this textThe people of Wollongong are convinced
Fix this textof the urgent need for more teachers to be
Fix this texttrained. They believe that the extension of
Fix this textteacher training to Wollongong is a logical
Fix this textstep to help overcome the grave teacher
Fix this textshortage, and is a natural educational de-
Fix this textvelopment in their rapidly growing city.
Fix this textMr. Heffron has expressed extreme con-
Fix this textfidence in the future of Wollongong and
Fix this textthe people now look to him to give a lead in
Fix this textthe advancement of education in the area.
Fix this textToddlers’ Classes Largest of
Fix this textAll, Survey Reveals
Fix this textA brochure giving the results
Fix this textof the recent survey of infants’
Fix this textclasses has been produced.
Fix this textThe survey, which was conducted
Fix this textby the Research Officer, covered 487
Fix this textinfants schools and departments
Fix this textThis represented 97 per cent of the
Fix this textschools and departments to which
Fix this textthe questionnaires were sent.
Fix this textThe following conclusions were drawn
Fix this textfrom the survey:
Fix this text• Infants are the hardest hit by the
Fix this textteacher shortage with 68 per cent of children
Fix this textm classes of 40 and more, compared with
Fix this text50 per cent in primary schools and 60 per
Fix this textcent in first-, second- and third-year classes
Fix this textin secondary schools.
Fix this text• T he s y rve Y showed no improvement on
Fix this textthe size of classes as compared with those
Fix this textof the previous year (1958). Ninety-nine per
Fix this textcent of infants were still being taught in
Fix this textclasses of 30 or more—classes too large for
Fix this text?5 eC S.\ Ve teaching. (The Delegate Assembly of
Fix this textthe World Confederation of Organisations of
Fix this texthe Teaching Profession, meeting in Frank-
Fix this textfurt m 1-957, set the maximum size of in-
Fix this textfants classes at from 25 to 30).
Fix this textHandful of Small Classes
Fix this text• The handful of small classes which do
Fix this textexist are due to special circumstances such
Fix this textas the following:
Fix this textThe children are migrants who do not
Fix this textspeak English; thus at Greta Migrant Camp
Fix this textall infants classes are under 30;
Fix this textSome small classes are remedial or op-
Fix this textportunity classes, though even some of those
Fix this textinclude up to 35 children;
Fix this textVery small rooms which will not hold bm
Fix this textclasses; on some returns teachers explained
Fix this textthe phenomenon of a small class as due to
Fix this textthe fact that it was being taught in a hat
Fix this textroom;
Fix this textDemonstration schools have classes smaller
Fix this textthan average—usually 30 or so children, but
Fix this textsome as low as 25.
Fix this textKindergarten Classes Largest
Fix this text• Kindergarten classes, comprising the
Fix this textyoungest children just starting school, are
Fix this textfar larger than the rest of the infants’
Fix this textclasses.
Fix this text• Nearly 10 per cent of kindergarten
Fix this textclasses were of 50 or more, compared with
Fix this textthree per cent of all infants’ classes.
Fix this text® There were 5,025 children still awaiting
Fix this textadmission to kindergarten classes in the last
Fix this textterm of 1959.
Fix this textAppeal to M.L.A.s
Fix this textA copy of the brochure has been forwarded
Fix this textto each member of the Legislate Assembly.
Fix this textIn a covering letter the General Secretary
Fix this textsays: 1
Fix this textThe rapid advance of science and tech-
Fix this textnology are focussing more and more at-
Fix this texttention upon public education, so that gov-
Fix this texternments all over the world are seeking to
Fix this textraise the level of education in their coun-
Fix this texttries to meet the conditions of automation
Fix this textand the space age. The most vital factor in
Fix this textthis respect is a sufficiency of adequately
Fix this texteducated and trained teachers to ensure
Fix this textclasses of reasonable size.
Fix this text“Though the overcrowding is greatest in
Fix this textinfants, schools, the position in secondary
Fix this textand primary schools is not mucn better.
Fix this text“The interests of the children in this State,
Fix this textand the progress of the State, make it im-
Fix this textperative that thousands more teachers be
Fix this texttrained. We are confident that you will
Fix this textmake every effort to see that additional
Fix this textteachers’ colleges are established, and that
Fix this textevery suitable and qualified applicant is
Fix this textgranted a teachers’ college scholarship.”
Fix this textFEDERAL GOVERNMENT
Fix this textSHOULD “DISCHARGE ITS
Fix this textNATIONAL OBLIGATION
Fix this textTO YOUTH OF AUSTRALIA”:
Fix this textA.T.F. CONFERENCE
Fix this textUrgency of Federal aid to the States for education
Fix this textwas emphasised again by the Annual Conference of the
Fix this textAustralian Teachers' Federation last month.
Fix this text"Having a full knowledge of the crisis conditions
Fix this textin education throughout Australia and the difficulties
Fix this textof the States in providing the finance to overcome this
Fix this textposition", the resolution declared, "this conference of
Fix this textAustralian teachers calls on the Federal Government to
Fix this textdischarge its national obligation to the youth of Australia."
Fix this textThe resolution said this should be done by the Federal
Fix this textGovernment—
Fix this text• Making a substantial emergency grant to the States for
Fix this texteducation under Section 96 of the Constitution;
Fix this text• Immediately setting up a committee, on the same
Fix this textpattern as the Murray Committee, to inquire into the needs of
Fix this textprimary, secondary and technical education on a nation-wide
Fix this textbasis.
Fix this textIt asked that all State teachers’
Fix this textunions take the necessary steps to
Fix this texthave State Premiers raise these mat-
Fix this textters at the next Premiers’ Conference.
Fix this textThe proposal was submitted by the
Fix this textN.S.W. Teachers’ Federation.
Fix this textIt was also decided, at the instance
Fix this textof the Victorian Teachers’ Union,
Fix this textthat, “as senior technical education
Fix this text* is in the field of tertiary education,
Fix this textand as the Commonwealth Govern-
Fix this textment has acepted the principle of as-
Fix this textsistance to tertiary education, the
Fix this textA.T.F. place before the Prime Mini-
Fix this textster a case for Commonwealth assist-
Fix this textance for technical education, parti-
Fix this textcularly in the provision of buildings
Fix this textand equipment, as a national respon-
Fix this textsibility.”
Fix this textA further resolution, submitted by
Fix this textthe State School Teachers’ Union of
Fix this textWestern Australia, asked that, to help
Fix this textovercome the national shortage of
Fix this textteachers, the Commonwealth Govern-
Fix this textment make money available for ade-
Fix this textquate allowances for adult teacher
Fix this texttrainees so as to attract mature-aged
Fix this textentrants who possess educational
Fix this textqualifications of at least matriculation
Fix this textstandard.
Fix this textNational Conference for
Fix this textSydney
Fix this textTo advance the cause of education
Fix this textin Australia it was decided to seek
Fix this textthe co-operation of the Australian
Fix this textCouncil of School Organisations
Fix this text(Federal body of parents’ associations)
Fix this textin holding a national meeting of
Fix this textteacher-parent and other interested
Fix this textbodies in Sydney on May 21. Each
Fix this textteachers’ union is to be asked to pre-
Fix this textsent to the meeting a survey of school
Fix this textconditions in its State.
Fix this textThe Conference was held in Ade-
Fix this textlaide on January 4,5, 6, and 7.
Fix this textN.S.W. Federation delegates were Mr.
Fix this textS. P. Lewis, Mr. E. J. Nicholls, Mr. F.
Fix this textA. Doyle, Miss E. W. Mattick, Miss
Fix this textH. Barclay and Miss M. A. Reid. Mr.
Fix this textE. W. Golding (S.A.), President of the
Fix this textA.T.F., presided. Mr. W. D. Dobell
Fix this text(N.S.W.), was re-elected Secretary of
Fix this textthe A.T.F.
Fix this textTeachers 1 Salaries
Fix this textConcerning teachers’ salaries, the
Fix this textConference adopted the following
Fix this textstatement originating with the
Fix this textN.S.W. Federation:
Fix this text“This Conference of representatives of
Fix this textAustralian teachers directs the attention of
Fix this textthe public, State Governments and the
Fix this textvarious salary-fixing authorities to the
Fix this texturgent need to grant proper recognition in
Fix this textterms of remuneration to teachers.
Fix this text“The acknowledged desirability of raising
Fix this textthe standard of educational attainments of
Fix this textthe Australian people in this age of swift
Fix this textscientific and technological advances to the
Fix this texthighest possible level so that they may play
Fix this texttheir part in a democratic community and
Fix this textuse their leisure time to advantage, em-
Fix this textphasises the need to recruit the best possible
Fix this texttalent to the teaching profession. This fact,
Fix this textcoupled with the desperate shortage of train-
Fix this texted teachers that exists in each State; the
Fix this textever-increasing demands, qualitatively and
Fix this textquantitatively, made upon the teaching pro-
Fix this textfession; the failure to give to teachers a
Fix this textproper share in the vastly increased wealth
Fix this textof our country; and the shrinking of the
Fix this textvalue of the marginal element contained in
Fix this textteachers’ salaries makes it imperative that
Fix this textaction be taken to , increase such salaries
Fix this textvery substantially.
Fix this text“To this end, Conference agrees:
Fix this text“• That there should be adequate allow-
Fix this textances paid to all students in training for
Fix this textthe teaching profession;
Fix this text“• That there should be an adequate
Fix this textminimum salary sufficient to attract suitable
Fix this textand properly qualified teachers to the Ser-
Fix this textvice;
Fix this text“• That the assured maximum salary for
Fix this textthe classroom teacher should be high enough
Fix this textto provide a proper professional standard;
Fix this text“• That the salary obtainable should be
Fix this textappropriate to the responsibilities and the
Fix this textservices rendered to the community;
Fix this text“• That all salaries should be based on
Fix this textthe principle of equal pay;
Fix this text“ #That in view of the marginal increases
Fix this textof 28% recently made to the metal trades
Fix this textand the consequential granting of up to
Fix this text33-1/3 per cent increases in existing margins
Fix this textto practically all sections of the salary and
Fix this textwage earning community;
Fix this text“Conference therefore recommends that
Fix this textall State teachers’ unions take the necessary
Fix this textaction to achieve the aims and to urge their
Fix this textrespective wage-fixing authorities to grant
Fix this textimmediately those marginal increases to all
Fix this textmembers of the teaching service.’’
Fix this textExchange with South-east
Fix this textAsia
Fix this textThe Conference decided that
Fix this textteacher exchange with the countries
Fix this textof South-east Asia should be encour-
Fix this textaged, and suggested the following
Fix this textways and means of effecting it:
Fix this text“Delegations, etc., from Australia: (1) By
Fix this textmeans of (a) formal delegations—all ex-
Fix this textpenses paid, (b) allocation of travel grants —
Fix this textsome assistance towards costs, (c) efforts to
Fix this textextend the Colombo Plan to cover teacher
Fix this textdelegations, etc.; (2) Exchanges and visits to
Fix this textbe arranged at all levels of the teaching ser-
Fix this textIt's easy and takes two shakes of a lamb's tail!
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http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-680977616
N.S.W. Teachers' Federation & New South Wales Public School Teachers' Federation. (1919). Education : journal of the N.S.W. Public School Teachers Federation Retrieved July 23, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-680977616
N.S.W. Teachers' Federation and New South Wales Public School Teachers' Federation. Education : journal of the N.S.W. Public School Teachers Federation Sydney: The Federation, 1919. Web. 23 July 2025 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-680977616>
N.S.W. Teachers' Federation & New South Wales Public School Teachers' Federation. 1919, Education : journal of the N.S.W. Public School Teachers Federation The Federation, Sydney viewed 23 July 2025 http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-680977616
{{Citation
| author1=N.S.W. Teachers' Federation.
| author2=New South Wales Public School Teachers' Federation.
| title=Education : journal of the N.S.W. Public School Teachers Federation.
| year=1919
| section=volumes.
| issn=0013-1156
| issue=Vol. 41 No. 01 (10 Feb 1960)
| location=Sydney
| publisher=The Federation
| url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-680977616
| id=nla.obj-680977616
| access-date=23 July 2025
| via=Trove
}}
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