ENCOURAGE THE TEACHERS.
fTo the Editor.) s | r » —Your sub-leader of yesterday again calls attention to the undesirable state of affairs existing throughout the Dominion—the scarcity of qualified teachers, more especially men. How is it that •while most of the professions are overcrowded, that of teaching does not induce a sufficient number of intelligent young people to enter that calling, with the result that in many cases the positions have to be filled by inexperienced and uncertificated teachers? One cause of this, I and I think a very important one, is the existing system of school committees. How often do we hear of teachers (more particularly in the country schools) whose chief trouble is that they cannot get on with the local committee? If school committees were non-existent, I think it would be to the advantage of education throughout the Dominion. It may be asked, if the committees were done away with, what cheek would there be on the country headmaster? How would the Education Board know whether the teacher was properly attending to his duties? As far as I can see, there is no more need for school committees than for postal or railway committees. If a committee is needed in each district to see to the cleaning of the school, the repair of the school fence, etc., etc., then why not have a postal committee to see that the like duties are attended to in respect of. the local post office ? The same would : apply to the local railway station.
The fact is that young men of any spirit and independence of character cannot tolerate the interference of the local school committee that very often takes place. The committees are in many cases composed of men who have no qualification in respect of educational matters, and ■who have the erroneous idea that the teacher should manage the school according to their particular views. Friction is thus caused, and often results in the better class of teacher giving up the profession in disgust. Let any father ask a headmaster whether he can recommend the teaching profession for a promising youth, and a reply will be received in the negative. I think the general public are not sufficiently aware of the true position, and until they are more enlightened the present scarcity of efficient teachers will continue, and the cause of education suffer.—l am, etc., EX-TEACHER. November 11.
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Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 270, 14 November 1910, Page 8
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398ENCOURAGE THE TEACHERS. Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 270, 14 November 1910, Page 8
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