SALARY SCALE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 64, Issue 179, 11 May 1944, Page 3

SALARY SCALE.

“PROFOUND DISCONTENT” it VOICED. m SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS. (P.A.) WELLINGTON, May 10. The salary scale for secondary school teachers was discussed at a Dominion executive meeting of the New Zealand Secondary Schools’ Association held, in Wellington yesterday and to-day instead of the annual conference. A statement issued by the executive this evening stated that profound dis-

content was expressed at the refusal of the Government to take adequate measures to remedy the injustice of the system by A\ r hich secondary teachers Avere still paid on a salary scale established in 1921, and reduced in 1922. It Avas stated that the president (Mr E. N. Ilogben) had expressed the regret of all teachers that after a year of fruitless negotiation this matter of salaries still had to be considered as a major problem. “The social implications of the profession, particularly in this period of Avar and post-Avar problems, make it particularly undesirable that secondary teachers should be in this unprecedented state of unhappy suspense, brought about by the Government’s refusal to deal justly Avith just claims,” the statement continues. “In the education of democracy, success can be achieved only if a teacher is given free and ample working conditions, and adequate status and remuneration that Avill banish financial worry and all sense of inadequacy. The teacher is still the master key Avithout Avhich the door cannot be unlocked. NeAV curricula and neAV systems are of no avail Avithout the right teachers, and it is knoAvn that many young NeAV Zealanders AVho Avould be most desirable teachers are not entering the profession because of the utterly inadequate reward for very special abilities and long years of professional training.”