TEACHERS AND THEIR WORK

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 49, 27 February 1934, Page 8

TEACHERS AND THEIR WORK

(Tb;:th6 Editor.)

Sir,—Ac a meaerure :■ of economy • the employment of Mly-qujdified young teachers at £60, a. year, less'superannuation contributions arid unemployment tax, has several good features. '■",.■

1. It is better, thau rationing for, three reasons: (a) The children have the same teacher for a 1 whole year, while the teacher also lias the advantage of continuous experience with one class; (b) the organisation of the schools becomes more satisfactory, as these £60 teachers do. the work of a permanent'member on the staff; (c) the taxpayer gets more than double the value for his money. . ' -•

'2, It will form-the.basis of a good argunieijt-. for reducing the salaries of all teachers. This will' be a notable saving and will enable a shrewd Minister of Education to reduce the size of classes without increasing the- cost of oducntion per head. . - '

3. If it be demonstrated that highlytrained and; skilled young people can be made to work for such remuneration the cost of all such services can be radically reduced. - -

It is a little illogical, of course, that these young .teachers' rate of pay;for the last-.five years, should have been so inconsistent. The following'is an approximate statement of .what they received:— Pupil teachers, at 17 or 18 years old, £80 for one year; student in; training college,'£9o per year, for two'years; rationed teacher-, £66 per year (approximate) for two years.'- .:<

The whimsical- thing about, it is that after matriculating, receiving. three years', intensive professional training, and working for two years as; ."improvers,", these trained, certificated:1 teachers are, working for a, third less salary' than a generous State provided thenv with as-' studentß in training. One . .expects \these " ; things' in comic opera kingdoms, but no,t 'in -a primary-producing Country' that (takes itself so seriously;; as.New Zealand.*?, ■■■■ ■' /There is a":general /impression ;abroad that there is a-/surplus of ."teachers,'.and much' grumbling- has ; been''heard 'about, married women teachers,remaining in the service. It- in .to Toe"feared; that the ayerage parent .appears, to think that-:if a: teacher, however Valuable as such,',• can be maintained by her husband or, in any other way, she should'not be allowed' to retain her position.,,. This vis hopeless1 reasoning; From a; long , acquaintance .with schools and staffs/1 should; say that, other things being equal, a married .woman is a; better teacher than /a , single ■■ woman, especially if- the latter is ; not^ young,-If ehe.has independent niearis; all the better. This apparent surplus of teachers wanting positions should have been used, in the interests; of the children, to remove from their positions, not married; women teachers, but any teachers' who are -unfit to be in charge of children,, or who.are unable to teach. There are persons of both kinds jri the service. The teachersknow them arid, to,their cost, 60 do.the children. It vronld appear that the educational .'authorities - either don't know them .or-consider the emotional welfare or the^ educdtionnl- progress of the; children ,■ o£;• Becondary ■importance' when ,the question of "jbbs" Ms considered. :'■ The writer-doesn't, like, ta see lettera on the ; subject *of sweated ".'teachers ! '<» which' the questions oi- "the difficulty:.of providing food and clothes- on £80. a- year are debated; Tlie6e'pleas savour too much of the. charitable" aid begging / queue ;or other dismal charity inquisitions which should never, have/disgraced this ' young wealthy country;- if these teachers are not drawn tp.their service by a love of children ;nn,d of 'teaching let:thein ; hasten to'use their: ability and education to.push other''young/people- aside and get betterj paid -positions- in trade: or / commercial circles;- This'is the -spirit, in which the community treats them, and: they-should learn : the . lesson. It -is .a: 'pity though that they should be : " a ; burden. ;6n ■; their parents who have "made Lracrifices to keep them during their high school and train-; ing periods.—l .am,'etc., '. .- ::. . :...:- ■'~-.' / ABA TIKA. ;