EDUCATIONAL ECONOMY.

Evening Star, Issue 7238, 14 June 1887, Page 1

EDUCATIONAL ECONOMY.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—ln your leading article of Friday on " Educational Economy " you diaw attention to certain figures in the annual education report for last year, referring to teachers' salaries in Auckland, North Canterbury, and Otago, and say: "We should like an explanation of the following figures ": — In Auckland 643 teachers receive L 64.50. In North CUnterbary 581 teachers receive L 49.370. In Otago 510 teachers receive L64.C02. If you are really sincere in your wish, and are not simply quoting only one set of figures for the sake of strengthening your argument, I, think the following figures, also quoted, from the same report, are sufficient explanation:—Strict average attendance for the year: Auckland, 15,939; North Canterbury, 14,076;- Ot«go, 18,295. Average number of pupils for each teacher: Auckland, 28.1; North Canterbury. 29.8; Otago, 38.7. As boards and committees receive their grant in proportion to the number taught, I think you will allow that teachers ought to participate in the same distribution. If you will grant this and then make a proportion between the number taught in Auckland by each teacher and the corresponding number in Otago, you will find that, instead of Otago teachers receiving L 64,000, L 74,600 ought to be nearer the mark. In. the list of teachers are also included sewing mistresses. lam not awaie what the salary is in other provinces ; in Otago it is L2O. Auckland has 58 of them, North Canterbury 42, Otago 17. • ' Tfr The real explanation consists in the fact that in the other provinces there are a greater number of small schools with, of course, correspondingly small salaried teachers. Auck- N. Oaaterland. bury.. ota &°- Schools under twenty pupils 34 14 13 Or sohools under fifty pupils . 143 .77: 81 —I am, etc., ..-.'■ Qtago. Dunedin, June 11.