CORRESPONDENCE

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 131, 11 June 1885, Page 4

CORRESPONDENCE

Pupil Teachers.

(To the Editor),

Sir, —A good deal has been said lately about the number of female teachers as compared with the ma'es, and disastrous results are predicted. It is assumed, for instance, that the supply^of headmasters will fail, or the choice become limited, and that discipline will not be maintained in our schools. Now let us look at tho facts. Though few boys offer themselves as pupil teachers, there are plenty of mon desirous of entering the profession, and theeo are received as nrobationers. Now, I think it will be concec ed that boys are of very little use in a school as a help to maintain discipline ; indeed, a girl of 16 ■ is looked upon with more respect than a boy of the same ago. On the other hand, a man, though untrained as a teacher, can render valuable assistance. As the teacher's training presupposes his education, it tt ems to me a mistake to tiy to train a boy whilst he is learning tho subjects ho will be afterwards called upon to teach. Lookaround and see how many principals of colleges and schools havo been pupil teachers. To come nearer home, should you think it necessary that tho Headmaster of tho Auckland Grammar School or a professor of tho Uni versify should have been a pupil teacher ? How have theso men obtained their knowledgo of I aching, and when did thoy begin to learn the'r profession ? We shall discover that such men havo begun much in the same way u= our probationers do, by engaging themselves in tho work after their education has been completed. A<-;ain, I think the cause why to few boys olfor their set vices as pupil l.iachers is not on account of tho small remuneration offered, but to a natural dicta.*.- to prolong their exis'enco within tho four walls of a school-room. They long to sco something of the world without; the girl, on the other hand, is willing to continue in her natural sphero, and looks forward to employment us a teacher as both honourable and suit d to her capacity. Finally, tho boys that aro willing to continue in the school nro, as a rule, precisely those who aro not likely to display courage sufficient to maintain themselves at tho heal of a school in aftertimes.—l am, &c., Teacher.