72. Mr. DENNISSasked the President of the Board of Education what steps are being taken by the Board to increase the supply of teachers to public elementary schools?
Mr. FISHERThis question has received the attention of the Board for some years past. In 1912 they took steps to improve the facilities open to boys and girls intending to enter the teaching profession. The result of these steps was to increase the number of candidates entering the profession from 5,232 in the year 1912–13 to 7,066 in the year 1915–16. During the last year, 1916–17, difficulties arising out of the War have led to a decrease in the number of candidates, and I am now carefully considering what further steps are needed to meet the situation. There is, I believe, a general consensus of opinion that the only way in which the supply of teachers can be placed on a permanently satisfactory footing will be by a substantial improvements in the emoluments and prospects of the teaching profession.