THE TEACHING PROFESSION.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 12015, 17 October 1904, Page 10

THE TEACHING PROFESSION.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE PRESS. Sir, —In replying to Mr Bedford's statement in the House tliat there were in tlie colony 1050 teachers receiving less than £100—the bulk receive £80—a year, the Minister for Education said-.—"The teachers receiving less than £100 a year are mostly young (?) women, who:would not probably be receiving more in my other occupation." Tlie Minister's nets— not his spoeches-nshow that this deplorable principle governs his policy in all that relates to teachers. Ho has, on all other occasions, expressed in language ornate and eloquent, most exalted views on the importance to the colony of the teachers' work. But in the House he drops the rhetoric and gives us hi« real views. He is content '-o recruit from among tho humdrum class, " who cannot earn more in any other " line. Now M-hat is the certain effect of this very unstatesmanlike policy on the future of the profession? The teachers of the colony are beginning to realise that from the Minister they can expect little consideration. He ia too supple, too fecund in promisea, too barren in justice. . There are. in the service many roen.of high attainments and ability, who are daily saddened with the reflection that in any other professioni they would probably be earning ten times their present income with infinitely leas weariness. These are the men (the rankers may bo , neglected) who will resolutely warn youths of ability from the work. So, in the very near.future men of ability in the service will be as extinct as tlie dodo. That giria | are becoming equally, averse to it is no less I true and sinister. . They are learning that lin other walks, of which* there are now I many, they can have a "ripping good time," that teaching meana eternal • swntting for exams., a wretched pittance, and ; cruel strain. . How cruel tho work is & j shown by a lady'o remark in my hearing, • ' "Five years of teaching leaves a girl .with-, out a'scrap of good looks." A little study of the careworn facea of our lady teachers will soon,bring conviction of'ita miserable truth. As our girls realise all this they, too, give the profession a wide berth, and; will continue to, do so unless the pay ia proportioned to the aacrifice involved. ; Finajly, I would point out that tinkering will do no good. The drivel flourished i n alloccaskma about tho alleviation given by the Public School Teachers' Salaries Act:is amazing. We .are still paupers. The £5 rise of ideal, scheme reduces us to the level 'of. Lazarus and the crumbs. Some of us are hopefully waiting for the time when. Dives shall be athirst. Our one comfort ia the sympathy and. advocacy of the respectable Press of the colony. •. *My object in writing -this protest;' is mainly to stir, the Canterbury Women's Association to some movement of selfdefence. —Yours, etc!, ■'■ '' ' ■ •'!-. '.'. '."..PAUPER."