EDUCATION

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 23 February 1931, Page 2

EDUCATION

PROBATIONERS’ SALARIES ANOMALY OP MARRIED WOMEN TEACHERS HU.SIiAND AND WIFE DRAWING £6lO A YEAR During a discussion at the Nelson Education Board meeting to-day concerning teachers, it transpired that recently a young teacher from the West toast obtained a transfer to a country school in the Nelson district, and married llie young teacher of the adjoining school. ' Both are continuing in their profession, drawing between them £6lO per annum. It also transpired that, there are at present 15 certificated teachers in the Nelson Education district without appointments. Prior to the foregoing information being given a circular from the Education Department notifying a reduction in the salaries paid to probationers was under discussion.

Mr Smith, referring to the proposal of tho Government to make a 10 per cent, cut in the pay of civil servants, said 10 per cent, was nothing at all to a man receiving say £IOOO a year, but it would be a great hardship to one drawing £BO a year He thought that Parliament should take into serious consideration that there should be some equality of sacrifice, not only in tho teaching profession, but throughout the whole of the public service. Those receiving £2OO a year or less should he let off as lightly as possible. lie agreed that everyone should be called upon to make some sacrifice. The chairman (the lion. W. 11. McIntyre) said that tho reduction of £5 made in probationers’ salaries amounted to £2400. It seemed a despicable thing to do to cut probationers down £5. Mr Smith stated that recently he had had the opportunity of meeting a large number of teachers, and without exception they expected to have, and were willing, "to a cut in salaries. The chairman asked whether the 10 per cent, cut would be in addition to the reduction already made in probationers’ salaries. * Mr Smith: From what one gathers from the Prime Minister's statement 1 think it will lie. . The chairman: It seems very untan;. Mr Trevena said the circular should receive very serious consideration. Apparently tlie cut was the result - of the work of the Economy Committee. A much more serious tiling was the termination of tire engagement of grade I assistants. He thought the Board should totally disagree with the treatment meted out to grade I assistants. The assistants were, sent to the training college, and were then told there were no vacancies for them. I lie Government's policy in that respect was a dishonest one." and if the Board had no vacancies for such teachers they should not he sent to the training college. 11 the Government wished to el!ext economies there were other avenues without sending teachers into the ranks of tho unemployed. 'For instance the motor allowances to some teachers should oe reviewed. ’Then there was also the high salaries paid to grade II female, mid sometimes male assistants. A good deal could he, saved in the directions lie liad indicated, and lie thought the Board should strongly disapprove ol the Department’s policy. The chairman said that the position had arisen that there were more teachers than there were vacancies. But this applied also to other professions. He agreed with Mr Trevena so far as motor allowances and the salaries paid to irvade II assistants were concerned. He would not like it, however, to go forfard, that it was the duty of the Board to find vacancies for all teachers. ,Mr Trevena said the Board induced the teachers to go to the training college. The chairman remarked that it was voluntary. . , Mr Trevena replied that the girls were placed under a three years bond, but when they were turned out as trained teachers the Department said there were no appointments tor them. Once tho Government took a girl into the training college, and spent the taxpayers’ money in training her, and then putting her under a bond, it was the duty of the Department to find positions for them. If no guarantee ot employment could he given, then the training colleges should he closed until the position was relieved. Mr Knapp said a trainee entered the training college entirely voluntarily and in this respect he entirety disagreed with Mi' Trevena.

MARRIED WOMEN TEACHERS

Mr Smith, in the course of some further remarks, said a further difficulty was that a number of married women teachers had entered into the service. The Nelson Board as far as possible had guarded against this m the past. Wherever possible, the 33oarcl had drawn the line and when posible a married man should maintain his wife. Mr Knapp expressed the opinion that the Government should provide work for those going through the training college for tho'term of their bond. Mr Trevena: It is a one-sided bond. The secretary said there were 15 certificated teachers in the Board’s district at present without appointments. The position was not as bad as Mr lievena had pointed out, as most of these teachers would be placed later in the year. In the centres a. great deal of the trouble was due to the fact that no • drls would «go into the country. " .Mr Trevena. They should be compelled to go to the country. Mr Knapp remarked that one reason why young teachers would not go into the country was because they would he unable to continue their university course. It was staled in regard to married women teachers that there was no power given to Boards to exercise discretion. In 1925 it was promised I hat legislation would he brought down giving boards such (lower, but it had not been done. It was then staled that recently a young married male teacher on the West Coast, had applied for a. transfer to the Neison district. This had been granted, and later he had married the teacher of an adjoining school. Both were just out of the training college. 11l reply to a question the secretary stated that both were continuing teaching and were drawing £OIO per annum between them. In reply to a further question the secretary said there were 15 certificated teachers in the district without appointments. Mr Trevena proposed that the woman teacher should receive three mouths’ notice of the termination of her engagement. The chairman: We should press for ‘legislation. The motion was carried. It was also decided to press the Government to bring down legislation giving boards discretionary (lowers in such matters. Mr Trevena also moved that the Board protests against the termination of the services of additional assistants. Mr Smilh hardly thought that this would moot with the approval of members, especially in view of the fact that the teachers would be placed in a few months.

T’lio secretary said this was the worst year the Board had had in connection with the matter .

Mr Knapp remarked that the press bad been pointing out for some time that the supply of teachers was exceed-

ing Ihe demand. He suggested that Mr Trevena should postpone bis motion (lending a report on the matter by the secretary.

Mr Trevena agreed, and the motion was not proceeded with.