FOR £60 A YEAR

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 51, 1 March 1934, Page 10

FOR £60 A YEAR

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—As a victim of the £60 a year (less tax) employed teacher scheme, I should like to add to the remarks of those who have criticised the system. The £60 a year assistant, in charge of and responsible for the progress of a class from one standard to the nest, who must do the same amount of work as .the permanent assistant earning' three times as much, is most'certainly, it seems to me, feeiajr exploited by tlie Department. He cannot do less work 01- his class will suffer, he will be stamped as inefficient, and his lack of grading marks for the year will tell the tale.- Sadder/still is the fate of that unfortunate member of the staff—the supernumerary, To; such no class is entrusted. He or,she-is sent hither and thither, taking, a group of one class for this and a group of another for that. Without a room of his own _ and a class, he has little chance of showing resource, organising powers or initiative, small opportunity for judging of the effectiveness of his teaching, or of watching progregs throughout the year. The supernumerary must adhere to the matter and methods set down for him by another. I myself am a supernumerary. I have my M.A. degree andmy teacher's B certificate, but I cannot have a class of my own. Perhaps ,the hardest part of all is the apparent distrust with which a class or group is handed over to a supernumerary. For one term only last year did I have a class. I hoped

for better thiugs this year, but I am now faced with the prospect of spending the whole of 1934 in this unsatisfactory indeed heart-breaking,' fashion. Moreover, I am paid an '"office boy's salary" of £4 15= a. month. And why don't I piote-<t? Beeaute I have spent the last six yeais of my life in gaining my degree and certificate in preparation for a teaching position. Because I have done my utmost to fit myself for such a profession, and I feel that some return is due to me. .Because I am entirely dependent on my £60. The Department holds me in the hollow of its hand. Doubtless many others of the 1400 teachers without permanent positions are victims of the same circumstances. To Protest individually would be worse than futile.—l am, etc., AN UNLUCKY ONE. (To the Editor.) Sir, —I have read several letters in your columns to the effect that young Govern-ment-trained school teachers are now being employed at £60 per annum gross. | Imagine a man doing this. He has to be well dressed,- pay his board, tram fares, etc.; and do:it all on £60. The thing is preposterous. Is it not time that the parents' of the : : children, being taught realised this? : How can we expect good results from such treatment? We have | committed our children into the hands of these teachers so that a good foundation can be laid for their: future careers. In my opinion the training of the young is the most important work one can undertake. How can this be done by au underpaid servant of the State? I am, etc.,