TEACHERS' SALARIES

Evening Star, Issue 15268, 21 August 1913, Page 2

TEACHERS' SALARIES

A PROFESSION FOR WOMEN.

[FnoM Oua Parliamentary Reporter ]

WELLINGTON, August 21. There, is a tendency nearly all over the world for -women to replace men in scholastic positions, formerly occupied bv tho latter alone, stated the' Minister of Education in the House of Rsprasenratiwa yesterday afternoon in reply to Mr Witty, who had asked if it were'true that thave is a scarcity of male teachers, and that teverai teachers, especially in Wellington, were contemplating sending in their resignations. "The scarcity of male teachers in New Zealand, the Hon. Mr Allen added, iu not so marked as in most countries. It j does not necessarily follow that tho ten-1 dency (in moderation at all events) was i bad, and half the children m our public schools are under the age of 10, and women I teachers are presumably the most suitable for them. Nearly half the remainder, or nearly a quarter of tho whole number, aro girls over 10, and it is generally conceded that they should be taught by woman. Ho far as class teaching is concerned titers vould be nothing to fear, therefore, if the proportion of women teachers to men teachers, were three to one. No doubt the difficulty in directing certain mixed schools renders it desirable that the proportion of men should be greater than this. Jm New Zealand it is more than twice as great." The _ Minister nuoted statistics irom tho education report last year, including the following:—Tho following list of retirements during the year ended 31st. May, 1913, docs not convey the idea that ih»r« is an unusual exedus from the teaching profession. Men who left tho service of education boards throughout the Dominion during tho 13 months prior to May, 1913, who were contributors to the teachers' superannuation fund:—"Under 20 years of ago, 2 (one left to t«ka up farming and cms went with his jraoTrto to Australia). Between the ages of 20 and 30 years, 15 (one now teach" ing at a" private secondary school, on<s a storekeeper, one an hoteikeeper, one- director cf the Boys' Institute, one a cheeee factory proprietor, one a farmer," one- a student, weak health, four membership lapsed, three again became contributors, and one. | intends teaching when health restored) Between the ages of 30 and 40 yeare, 6 (one a law clerk, two left New Zealand—one for Australia End one- for the Islands—threeno reason for leaving the profession). Between the ages of 40 and 50 years, 1 (gives no Teason for leaving tho profession). Over 50 years of age, 1 (now a bookkeeper).