BETTER PAY FOR TEACHERS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXV, Issue LXV, 1 August 1913, Page 6

BETTER PAY FOR TEACHERS.

PETTETON TO PARLIAMENT

The following letter has been addressed by the New Zealand Iktucationai in- | stitute to members of both Houses <A the Leg us! atlire : ! "You are no doubt well uware that there has been tor some f.me a grow- ! ing feeling of discontent amo-'.g teacner* wjth the conditions ol tiieii service. As representing the primary .school teach ers of. the Dominion, tne executive of i the New Zealand .Education;;! Institute desires to bring directly and forcibly before you the cliief cause ot this discontent, that is to say, the inadequate salaries that they receive. Throughout the length and breadth of the land the same con:plaint is heard, not- from the teachers alone, but from almost all per- ] sons who realise the importance of education in the building up of the citizenship of the nation. It is felt that the time has arrived when a strong demand should be made for an increase in the ' payment of teachers, and tc that end I am directed to invite your careful consideration of a few of the reasons that are relied upon as justifying the demand. Summarised as briefly as their! importance will permit, tho/ are:— ] (a) The work of education is of such j importance to tke well-being of the State that no sacrifice is t<-o great for securing the best men and women for that work, and at the present time this j is very -Jar from being effected. (b) The teaching profession does not attract to its ranks the brightest of our young people, or even retain those who do enter it. It is common knowledge that many of the best young women and mo.st of the young men only enter the profession for the purpose of completing their education foi .some more fa-vored field of action. (c) Not only in comparison with other branches of the Public Service, but also with the inducements of professional and commercial life does the teaching profession suffer. From the time of his entry as pupil teacher or probationer until he retires on his pension, the teaclier is subjected to the knowledge that his salary is fess —in many cases a fjreat deal less —than that ot other pubic; servants whose work i> [ess responsible, whose training is less arduous, whose work is freer from annoyances, and who is free also froni the fear of reduction in pay or pension. (d) Since the last revision of teachers' salaries there ha.s been a Marked advance in the cost ol liviiiu. This has been compensated for in almost every other known calling—teachers alone! have been left to suffer, ai-.d are now actually in receipt of less remuneration than ti)?y were seven years ago, that is I to .say, in the purchasing power of their salaries. (c) A very large proportion of the children of this Dominion are taught in country schools, and it i.s a standing grievance of the settlers in remote distifcts that they are handicapped in relawjn to the education of their children by We difficulty of getting good teachers to stay in those districts. The only possible remedy is the payment of such salaries as wrn induce teachers of experience and efficiency to make their liomes in the country. (f) The people of the Dominion pay over £1,(300.000 por annum for tobacco, and over £4,000,000 for ak-ohol. This shows, and the state of the public accounts offers further proof, that there is no lack of moans to pay reasonable salaries for the- education of the young, and the utterances of public men and the writings of the public press make it clear that there is no lack of will. All.that is needed is that Parliament should carry it into effect. (g) . There are practically no prizes in the profession, and none are asked for —there is therefore the greater need for a reasonable average salary. In this connection it may be of interest to note that'even in England the demand has been set up for a minimum salary for teachers of £200 a yerr." It would be quite ea.-y to add other items to this statement of the teachers' claim for consideration—and even pf what has been set down much must already be well known to you. Teachers throughout the Dominion are looking to Parliament for consideration of a claim the justice of which cannot be gainsaid.