"A TEACHERS' GRIEVANCE."

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVII, Issue 145, 21 June 1913, Page 8

"A TEACHERS' GRIEVANCE."

[to the editor.]

Sir, —After your terse but pointed

footnote to Alt'. G. Mills's letter on J the above subject, there is really little that calls for comment. I would like to point out to your correspondent, however, That the grievance is in. connection with the Blenheim Com-, mittee's action, although the selection " of the Renwiek Committee consti- • tutes a parallel case to the one in \ question. Mr Mills states that "if a man has the ability and energy to work himself up to the ,B.A. degree, it would surely be poor justice to turn him down and appoint a local man with a C or D certificate." Now. this statement is not at all reasonable. How often is it found ihat a man has extraordinary ability in passing examinations, but when it comes to imparting his knowledge ho is an utter failure ! And then, again, whilst the one teacher is "swotting" | the higher subjects with a view to j obtaining his B.A. degree, the man j with the C or D teaching certificate is obtaining experience in teaching and qualifying for the higher positions; which the profession offers. It ■ is patent, then, which man is more fitted to hold a position in instructing children in the primary subjects. Nowadays too many people are deceived by the B.A. or M.A. tacked on to a teacher's name. I OBSERVER.