TEACHERS' SALARIES

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12422, 11 February 1901, Page 3

TEACHERS' SALARIES

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —" Pendennis," 'in your correspondence columns yesterday morning, has contributed a very interesting letter on the subject of the shortage of male pupilteachers, and wants to know the reason of such shortage. I venture to state that "Pendennis" has not one teacher acquaintance. If he had, what now seems to him a difficult problem would be solved at once. He says:—"The apprenticeship to this profession is surely good enough in itself," and he is not far wrong, though pupil teachers do not have a very rosy time, nor is their work finished when the school is closed for the day. Still, I agree with him that the apprenticeship is not to. blame. Then why do'we hear of to many pupil-teachers—-and certificated teachers, too — giving up their profession and beginning again l in some new ©occupation? I dare to' say that if some radical change is not soon brought about the profession will be bereft of many' of its most • 'valuable and its most promising members ; and it ■ will be a diffiuclt matter, indeed, to induce our boys—other than those who are fit for nothing else—to become teachers. lam surprised that the Education Board is so blind that it is about to institute an- inquiry. To the solution. The teaching profession is getting, has. got, into disrepute, and why? Because teachers are miserably paid. "Bosh!" says the layman, "there > ava schoolmasters earning £6 or £7 a week." So there are; but how many? Are there not dozens of school-teachers in this district earning only half as. much as their pupils of three or four years ago? A teacher friend of mine tells me of,a young man, a few years ago his pupil, who is'now earning more by sticking bullocks than he himself is earning at .teaching. ...Would "Pendennis" be surprised df a thirty-five shillings a week school-teacher, with a university degree, with twelve or fourteen years' experience, and with high certificates, "chucked his job" and "struck out" in another direotiom to earn his bread? I know of university graduates who; have bsen teaching as long as fifteen years-,!'aye, ■even nineteen years, whos?. salaries are a few pence above £2-a. week. City Council men sweeping the ditches earn more than that. Many other certificated teachers, who have been out of their time several years, are receiving £9O a year, or £1 14s 7 5-13 d a week. Is that a living wage for 1 a' man? When a teacher has served his time he is surely entitled- to as much as a painter, a ditch-sweeper, or a; carpenter. He should receive at least £2' 15s a week. ■ Teachers have tolerated this state of things, because they have been'led.to hope for' a better condition of affairs under a colonial scale; but there is an end to all, things; even to patience. The inspectors, I am glad to say, have recommended that teachers should receive suitable remuneration for their work. When they do, and the profession is restored 1 to that high position) it held in former times, our most promising boys will be ready to become members of it. No wonder then, that there is a. shortage of male pupil-teachers. It is only a natural consequence.—l am, etc.,

MAJOR PENDENNIS