THE REMEDY

Evening Post, Volume XCIX, Issue 121, 22 May 1920, Page 5

THE REMEDY

DISSATISFIED TEACHERS MORE GENEROUS TREATMENT WANTED. "It is sometimes argued as a reproach," gaid Mr. J. Drummond, M.A., president of the Secondary School Assistants' Association of New Zealand, while addressing members of that body tnis morning, '"that teachers at conferences of this kind discuss salaries ratheithan purely educational requirements; but the most important educational requirement is a good.teacher. You' ciihnot get him, still Isss retain him permanently, without paying him adequately. It is hardly necessary to affirm that cheat; goods and high quality are incompatible.

"It is intended to spend considerable sums unon school buildings in this and subsequent years, important changes in organisation and curriculum are being discussed. ' But important as such questions are they deal with the machinery, not with the life, of education. ■The factors of supreme importance are the personality and efficiency of the teacher. The Minister recognised this in a recent utterance when he said, 'It is vitally important that the best men and women should be securml as teachers.'

"They cannot be secured so long as other professions offer them better prospect? and a higher standing in tho community. The tendency of young Teachers is to leave as soon aa they have saved onAugh to 1 start in some other career.' For this -reaaun .they are often little interested in the work even while engaged in it. The English Minister for Education said recently: ' A discontented teacher is a bad teacher and an embittered teacher is a, danger to the- community.' Discontent is natural in those whose salaries have increased by something like 20 per cent, during a period when the cost of living has risen' 60 per cent. "Secondary teachers are now asking for an increase of capitation which will make it possible to pay salaries at least as high as they were before the war. This would involve an expenditure of not less than £19 per head."

It was not alone in New Zealand that there was a great shortage of teachers, said Mr. Drummond, and he. read the following extract from a leading American newspaper: "Recently in New 1 York, the richest city in the world, 62,700 children had to be sent home because of a shortago of teachers. In six months 1018 ttachers joined other professions. A c.risis in our educational progress has arrived. We must starve the minds of the oncoming generations or pay teachers adequately." .