TEACHERS' WANTS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2164, 1 June 1914, Page 3

TEACHERS' WANTS

DEPUTATIONS TO MEMBERS OP PARLIAMENT . IMPROVEMENTS SOUGHT - ■ (IS j,' —Press Associat-i-oiiA . CliristshUfeh, May 31. j'-O'uhws of the North Canterbury aducational Institute met the li.csl iiiL l fflbMS > of Parliament to lay before them various phases of their professional : life, ivitli a v.iow to having jmpTovocl uy the Education IBill to ue in-, traduced next session.- 'l lie ■ membersoi Parliament present, ■ were: Messrs. T. H. l);,vcv, 0. W. Russell, IL G. 1 14 ,G. Witty, and J. M'Comhs. i Mr, Jr. T, Evans said that tune or ten : years ago the profession was certainly on© of the worst paid in I lie Dominion, ; ami, Parliament bad to bo thanked for tho improved conditions «nco U/at- time. However, the cast of living had gono up, and generally conditions had altered so that further revision was jov r.ejieissary. Tiro teacher had to continue studying in or3t?r to keep tip with ever changing thought, s»n-d constantly intreduced new ideas, As homo lifo feecame less general and of less irfluenco tho importance of the ucaehers became tho- greater. ■ Grading ami Promotion, It was the burning dcsii'o of the teachers that there should be ,a definite system of grading Slid promotion. Tha prese-at- system of ill© appointment of teachers was rotten. 'I'he question of aide pay was aluo discussed. It might he said that they were wanting too much, and that it could not bo afford-scl. Tito . loaders declared that i| so much could he spent on. defence something more should bis doi.it) to liclp education, Tho uierago salaries received in the. various tlades were: Telegraphists, £Is 3 ISfe. ■ enginedrivers, £1/1 12s. ; to £19q; ciktpenters, £148 4s, to i'lilo; teachers, i'l&t Bs. Sd. Once a pupil teacher or probationer was admitted, his work should ho mads as continuous as though li& or sl.o Were employed in some other.-Is ranch of tjso Gwe-rjiment service. Bo should t.ot Le compelled to await a place, as he very often had to at present, Mr. J. Caughley pointed out that some of the improvements asked for would -be for the- benefit of the whole State. 1 lie alteration of renditions was greater thas the world at large knew. 111® teacher was asked 3ioW to specialise. in many directions.

Abolish the Pupil Teacher, it wys iii'oo that the pupti teacher should bo abojisjic-d, Training college students would bo older limn the pupil teacher, and would think more seriously about the pros-poets of Ahe profession before they entered it, and some falling off i ;il the number of those coming forward ought t<> be expected. ' The poor wages and difiieult conditions militated against any individual becoming an Heal teacher. It was Wit right that a ;i>aiL should havo to. wait for advancement until a chance came through some bettor place being vacant. Further grading would taut to make- tho staff mr,re permanent, and this would save much of tho dislocation of school work, Council of Education Proposed. He would urge the setting up of a council of education, composed of experts from all parts of Now Zealand, so that olio comprehensive schema could bo drawn up. Further,-he would like to soo gntdiiu' continued- to inspectors. At present there was practically 110 monetary gain to a man in taking up this sort of work if he wore a senior teacher, There were eases'where inspectors,of sheep were better paid than inspectors of schools. Members' Advice. In reply, Mr. iUissoli advised t:ho teachers to have the figures quoted that morning printed awl |x»t<4 to eacil nieffiber of Parliament, and 'also that a petition should be forwarded to Parliament, sg that-tlwy might be aMo to give personal evidence before a committee. Mr. Uavey declared that the teachers frisbed to be placed 011 equal raters as to paj with other Government Deparciaeiits. ■, lie could agreo with tho fairness of some of tho comparisons made. ' /He would do all he could to assist them ! to th© best- of his ability to get theirdesires, particularly as. to siiperammation and the cost of remov.il. 'Ihe question of centralisation was too big a matter for them to go into Uia-t day. Mr. Geo. Witty said the £6 ir ctease granted last year to some of ilirin was a miserable pittance, and ii.Kmld bo remedied by the bigger Bill ...f next- session. Mr. 11' Combs also spofecj in favour of the teachers being supported. fto be--Jiered the demands were snaderato, ani they fffluld have his help both in Parliament and out,