TEACHERS' SALARIES

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 77, 27 September 1918, Page 9

TEACHERS' SALARIES

WMHBsEDHOR. Sir, —In1 last Saturday's paper appeared a letter on this subject from one who signed himself "Unionist." With most of what is therein expressed, I am in entire agreement. \ The Teachers' Institute appears to be anxious to obtain for the teacher in general a better standing in the community, and. to secure for him a more adequate remuneration than lie at present receives for the' valuable services he performs. This much, I believe, both "Unionist" and I are prepared to admit. But in my opinion the institute is altogether too timid, not to say obsequious, in ite manner of asking;for the reforms it advocates. '•

We are not asking for what, in our. own consciousness, we are doubtful of deserving, but for what we know we have a right to demand. Then why this hesitating,: halting manner? Is this the way to early conviction to the minds of those we are trying to convince?"' The community is always ready to acknowledge the teacher's value, and even- the nobility of his profession, so long as he is satisfied witn an acknowledgment in words only; but when he suggests that the acknowledgment take the form of increased remuneration, he is met with a polite but firm refusal. This reiterated reference to the nobility of our profession is all very'well in its' way,. but when the butcher calls about his overdue accouut, and we tell him that, owing to the nobility of our profession, we have not at present' the means of meeting the bill, he goes away looking unconvinced. Some of the more fortunate of" our fellows are advocating a policy of selfdenial,, or at least delay in pressing our claim ; none of these, I think, occupies a position in that unfortunate class known as 111 b. If he did, he would be so busy trying to make ends meet, "that he would be unable to find time for such generosity. In effect these are saying to us less fortunate ones, "just keep-still, and we will win this war if it costs us your last shilling." . • ' ( No, Sir, your drowning mart cannot postpone hie grab at the- passing hencoop. We teachers in 111 b. w^ant an increase in salary, and we want it now, that- we may be able to pay. our way and-;look'our :fellow men iii-the face; 'this we cannot *do" on pur " .present salaries.—l am, 'etc., . •■• : : r . ; lII*. 25th. September. . TO THE EDITOR. . / Sir,—ln recent issues of your paperappeared letters dealing with the great injustice done to head teachers of grade 111 b. schools by the last salaries act. Many of us received "promotion". from the grade below, our • belongings, came into the suburbs or small towliship3, leaving behind the glebe which Mr. Combs so ably advocates as a necessary adjunct of the country school. Then came the new scale of salaries, when wo found to oar dismay that we should have been much better off Sad we refused the "promotion" that had [ been given us;, for the two-teacher schools were raised a grade, while the three-teacher' schools remained-ae they were. Tho effect of this is seen in the grading list in a very marked degree. The third position in a three-teacher school is the lowest on. the scale, £110 a year. Hence • there are continual changes in staff, and many 'untrained teachers have to be employed,- while the difficulty in maintaining the efficiency of these schools is accentuated by' tho continual coming and. going of scholars in townships and- suburbs. One school. I for example, had 120 children come and! go in eighteen months, while the roll for the period averaged but 80. ' Against the fixed population of country districts wliere there is a two-teacher school with its less changeful staff we-ihave little chance as far as results go, and therefore the head master of a school averaging say 110, finds himself below the head master of one averaging say 50, while the city assistant with his one class is pages ahead because of the extra marks he receives on account of his increased salary. Mi.''- Gaughley holds that no assistant should receive more than a head master, and wo hope that something will be done when the new Bill comes down'to rectify this blunder in the present scale of salaries, and to give'ue sufficient quota or salary marks to equalise us with city assistants in the matter of grading for promotion. The question of grade Illb.- schools only touches on the fringe of the whole matter, for we cannot obtain teachers. In a recent issu-e of your paper, the Education Board advertised for certificated and capable teachers at £110 per annum, while the Public Works Department advertised m the same column for "temporary clerks" at J34 to £5 a. week. If the public and the Education authorities will .think over the foregoing sentence and all the issues arising therefrom, they may easily see where the main trouble lies.—l am, etc., WILLIAM PHILIP.

25th September.