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education
Fix this textJOURNAL OF THE NEW SOUTH WALES TEACHERS’ FEDERATION
Fix this textVol. 52, No. 11
Fix this textJULY 7, 1971
Fix this textPrice: Three cents
Fix this textRegistered at G.P.0., Sydney, for transmission
Fix this textby post as a newspaper Category B.
Fix this textTeacher Shortage Crisis
Fix this textFederation
Fix this textwarning
Fix this textignored!
Fix this textIn the June 9, 1971 issue of Education
Fix this textwe featured the $1433 million gap which
Fix this textthe Australian Education Council
Fix this textclaimed existed between States’ funds
Fix this textand education needs for the next five
Fix this textyears. The Federal Minister for Educa-
Fix this texttion and Science, Mr. Fairbairn,
Fix this textassured our President in May that the
Fix this textStates’ educational plight was definitely
Fix this texton the agenda for the Premiers’ Con-
Fix this textference, June 16-17.
Fix this textSince then the public has been given no
Fix this textinkling on whether this topic was discussed,
Fix this textbut two facts have emerged which make it
Fix this textunlikely that it was treated more than per-
Fix this textfunctorily: on Thursday, June 17, Mr. Fair-
Fix this textbairn referred to the sums in the education
Fix this textneeds survey as “hypothetical”; since then
Fix this textit has been revealed that neither Mr. Askin’s
Fix this textnor Sir Henry Bolte’s government has
Fix this textfurnished Mr. McMahon’s government with
Fix this textthe figures needed to finalise the Common-
Fix this textwealth’s grant to the States for education.
Fix this textPresident’s Statement
Fix this textAt the time of the Premiers’ Conference,
Fix this textFederation President Mr. W. J. Whalan
Fix this textsaid in Canberra:
Fix this textUnless our visit to Canberra causes the
Fix this textFederal politicians to become aware of the
Fix this textimmediate education crisis existing in this
Fix this textcountry, of the deep concern of teachers and
Fix this textparents, and to take immediate steps to over-
Fix this textcome this crisis, then the future of Australia
Fix this textand its younger generation will continue to
Fix this textbe placed in jeopardy.
Fix this textDirector-General’s Letter
Fix this textMr. Whalan’s statement was borne out by a
Fix this textletter received by Federation’s General Secre-
Fix this texttary, Mr. I. G. Lancaster, from Mr. Buggie,
Fix this textthe Deputy Director-General of Education,
Fix this texton June 17.
Fix this textIn this letter the Deputy Director-General
Fix this textstated that no increase in secondary teachers
Fix this textwas expected in 1972 but that pupil increase
Fix this textwould be 11,360.
Fix this textIn the light of this letter, and a meeting
Fix this textwith the Public Service Board on Friday,
Fix this textJune 18, Federation called a press confer-
Fix this textence on Monday, June 21, to alert the public
Fix this textto the grave situation emerging for 1972.
Fix this textThe Press proved most co-operative and the
Fix this textissue of teacher shortage in 1972 has
Fix this textreceived coverage in all daily newspapers
Fix this textand on radio and television.
Fix this textConference Statement
Fix this textAt the conference the President stated:
Fix this text“It is obvious that 1972 will open with
Fix this textsecondary education in a truly shocking
Fix this textstate, unable even to maintain the unsatis-
Fix this textfactory reductions of 1971 and faced with
Fix this textinevitable further reductions in 1972.
Fix this text“This is an indictment of the governments
Fix this textwhich have allowed such a situation to arise.
Fix this text“Federation with its limited research
Fix this textfacilities has given warning of the position
Fix this textfor at least ten years. We have said that the
Fix this textschool population forecasts which condi-
Fix this texttioned the number of teachers taken into
Fix this texttraining each year were completely wrong.
Fix this textWe called for the building of teachers’ col-
Fix this textleges and the training of all suitable and
Fix this textqualified applicants. We spent thousands of
Fix this textdollars trying to get the message to the
Fix this textparents and the government. We were
Fix this textbranded as alarmists and agitators, and
Fix this textMinisters and Governments through com-
Fix this textplete ineptitude have allowed the position to
Fix this textdeteriorate to a stage where secondary educa-
Fix this texttion can no longer continue to function even
Fix this textat the present reduced levels.
Fix this textGovernment Responsibility
Fix this text“The responsibility rests with the govern-
Fix this textments of the past ten years and in particular
Fix this textwith the current government and Minister
Fix this textfor Education, who have been in office long
Fix this textenough now to have taken those measures
Fix this textwhich would have produced the teachers to
Fix this textcope with the situation.
Fix this text“The Federation gave the warnings and
Fix this textpresented the only possible solution. The
Fix this textwarnings were classed as alarmist propa-
Fix this textganda, the advice was ignored. The Minister
Fix this textand the Government must accept the
Fix this textresponsibility.
Fix this text“Even to maintain 1971 standards, which
Fix this textcut the school week from 40 periods to 39.
Fix this textthere is a shortfall of about 300 teachers
Fix this textplus the 800 required for the additional
Fix this text11,360 pupils. This is about 1,100 teachers
Fix this textshort. To restore the lost period and return
Fix this textto the normal 40 periods will require a
Fix this textfurther 540 teachers, giving a shortage of
Fix this text1,640 teachers. There are strong indications
Fix this textthat the resignation rate has been under-
Fix this textestimated and that the total needs will be
Fix this textabout 1.500 if we continue with a 39-period
Fix this textweek, and 2,000 if we go back to 40
Fix this textperiods.”
Fix this textAbove: Two views of overcrowding at
Fix this textWalgett Central School. A sewing class is
Fix this textforced to work outside (what happens when
Fix this textit rains?) Children queuing in the inade-
Fix this textquate ablution block during recess.
Fix this textIn this issue:
Fix this textSchool Libraries. An analysis of the
Fix this textVaughan Report on deficiencies. P. 103.
Fix this textTRISEC. An exciting experiment in teacher
Fix this textorganisation at Yagoona. P. 106.
Fix this textLa Perouse Experiment. Voluntary effort by
Fix this textKogarah High teachers to help deprived
Fix this textchildren. P. 106.
Fix this textAccommodation Mix-up
Fix this textWalgett Bungle
Fix this textBy Miss E. Maffick
Fix this textDeputy President.
Fix this textThe staff of the infants’ and primary
Fix this textdepartments at Walgett Central School
Fix this textpropose to take stop work action in
Fix this textthird term unless certain assurances are
Fix this textgiven by the Education Department
Fix this textbefore the end of second term in re-
Fix this textlation to the building programme at
Fix this textthat school.
Fix this textIn an example of inexplicable bungling the
Fix this textEducation Department has sold a double
Fix this textportable in reasonably good condition, which
Fix this textwill be removed on the completion of certain
Fix this textcurrent construction, leaving the school just
Fix this textas overcrowded as at present.
Fix this textThe Department also sold and had to re-
Fix this textpurchase the only weathershed on the site
Fix this textwhich, because of inadequate storage space,
Fix this texthad been converted into a storeroom. The
Fix this textDepartment incorrectly sited a new infants’
Fix this textablution block and failed to provide staff
Fix this texttoilets in either the infants’ or primary ablu-
Fix this texttion blocks.
Fix this textPrimary Shortages
Fix this textThe primary department is little more than
Fix this texta collection of makeshift accommodation,
Fix this textconsisting of the original antiquated build-
Fix this texting, the verandah of which has been parti-
Fix this texttioned to provide for two classrooms and a
Fix this textlibrary. The latter is so small—l2ft. x llfrft.
Fix this text—that only six children at the most can
Fix this textchange books at a time. All of these make-
Fix this textshift rooms are hotboxes in the summer. In
Fix this textaddition, there are two dilapidated one-
Fix this textteacher schools and the double portable.
Fix this textOnly two rooms have fluorescent lighting
Fix this textand the heating facilities are either non-
Fix this textexistent or totally inadequate.
Fix this textAlthough the infants’ department occupies
Fix this texta new brick block, there are insufficient
Fix this textclassrooms. Two classes occupy one room
Fix this textdivided by a partition which does not reach
Fix this textthe ceiling.
Fix this textThe double portable is being re-sited
Fix this textpending the completion of the new ablution
Fix this textblock and two classrooms for the primary
Fix this textschool and the new infants’ ablution block.
Fix this textIt will then be removed, leaving the school
Fix this textjust as shockingly overcrowded and, apart
Fix this textfrom two new classrooms, as unsatisfactorily
Fix this texthoused as at present.
Fix this textApart from the fact that the double port-
Fix this textable will still be needed at Walgett, it is
Fix this textquite inexplicable that the Department could
Fix this textallow any reasonably satisfactory building to
Fix this textbe sold when there are known classroom
Fix this textshortages elsewhere. In fact, this building
Fix this textcould be used immediately at Lightning
Fix this textRidge where two classes are being accom-
Fix this textmodated in a dilapidated, unlined, galvanised-
Fix this textiron local hall with most inadequate toilet
Fix this textfacilities.
Fix this textToilet Needs
Fix this textWork on the ablution block for the infants’
Fix this textschool has now been delayed pending re-
Fix this textsiting. Had it proceeded without this error
Fix this textbeing rectified, it could have cost the Depart-
Fix this textment thousands of dollars for demolition
Fix this textand re-building.
Fix this textWith the removal of the existing toilet and
Fix this textwashroom blocks, when the new ablution
Fix this textblocks are completed there will be no staff
Fix this texttoilets until a new primary administration
Fix this text(Continued back page)
Fix this textWHEN DID YOU GET
Fix this textTHIS ISSUE?
Fix this textFederation has received numerous
Fix this textcomplaints about the late arrival of
Fix this text“Education” at schools.
Fix this textWe would like to know how late it is
Fix this textin arriving at your school, so fill in the
Fix this textcoupon below and let us know.
Fix this textNAME:
Fix this textSCHOOL:
Fix this textDATE OF ISSUE:
Fix this textDATE RECEIVED: .-
Fix this textContact your local post office as well.
Fix this textIf they know you’re anxious to get
Fix this text“Education” this may expedite delivery!
Fix this textIt's easy and takes two shakes of a lamb's tail!
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http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-727264080
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 26, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-727264080
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. 26 July 2025 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-727264080>
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 26 July 2025 http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-727264080
{{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. 52 No. 11 (7 Jul 1971)
| location=Sydney
| publisher=The Federation
| url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-727264080
| id=nla.obj-727264080
| access-date=26 July 2025
| via=Trove
}}
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