FOR EX-SOLDIER TEACHERS

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 43, 19 August 1918, Page 8

FOR EX-SOLDIER TEACHERS

PLEA FOR MINIMUM OF £150 A

YEAR.

A deputation of educationists, introduced by Mr. B. A. Wright, M.P., called to-day on the Minister of Education (the Hon. J. A. Hanan) in support of a. proposal by Mr. J. S. Tennant, director of the Teachers' Training College, on behalf of young men who were going on with the training course when the call came for military service. Mr. Tennant and other speakers strongly urged 1 that it would be a benefit to the Dominion to induce such men to re-enter the teaching profession on the completion of their military service, but it would be necessary to offer a living wage instead of the ordinary small salary of a pupil teacher. It was believed that if the offer was £150 it would secure for teaching a number of valuable young men who might be otherwise inclined to try another occupation. Mr. Tennant mentioned that the staff of the Training College would be pleased to work extra hours for the instruction of such exsoldier teachers.

Tile Minister replied that a question of differentiation had 1 been raised as between ordinary student teachers and exsoldiers. As an important principle was involved, the subject would have to be referred to Cabinet. The matter would have thorough consideration by himself and his colleagues.