Teachers’ salaries

Press, 31 October 1981, Page 14

Teachers’ salaries

Sir,—The restoration of traditional relativities between primary and secondary teachers' salaries with due regard for experience, qualifications and responsibilities, is ' surely a reasonable and responsible claim by the N.Z.E.I. Failure to recognise this will result in a serious deterioration in the quality of primary education generally and the missing of a golden opportunity to make good existing deficiencies in a school system which has been stretched thin in many areas for years. It gives teachers no joy whatever to see three years of patient and responsible negotiation so bluntly put aside. It is now up to primary teachers themselves to show that they are determined to “uphold and maintain the just claims of their members” by taking the only remaining option left to them or else suffer the inevitable consequences. With the understanding and support of the public the claim must surely prevail, and the quality of primary education restored. — Yours, etc., B. W. SHEAD, Principal, Swannanoa School. October 28, 1981.