PAYMENT OF TEACHERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10044, 3 February 1896, Page 3

PAYMENT OF TEACHERS.

to the editor. Sir,— no letter has appeared refuting the statement made by Mr. Woodward that "the teachers of small sehools have had their pay raised, and a minimum fixed so that in no case shall it fall below a certain sum"; and " they are better housed; their teachers, especially of the small schools, are more highly paid, and their incomes made more secure than they have ever been in the past," I hope you will allow me to say a few words on this subject. Four years ago Air. Luke -moved a resolution, which was carried by a majority of two votes, " That £60 be the minimum salary of a certificated teacher in charge or solo assistant of any school." This, with the £10 allowance for living away from home, makes the £70 minimum to which Mr. Woodward refers. Mr. Luke, at a previous meeting, had declared that the Board "paid their nursegirls better than their teachers." Again, in the Board's regulation issued "for the information of teachers," dated November, 1893, appears the following" Under 20, £5 per _ head on the average attendance. Minimum salaries: Male, £80; female, £70." Lately a regulation has been in force fixing the salaries of those teachers who have an average atteadance of from 15 to 19, at £70 per annum. So that a year ago, a teacher having an averago attendance of 19 had £95 per annum, and now she only receives £70. Will Mr. Woodward explain the discrepancy between his statements and this fact? As to the housing of the teachers, the settlers are not to blame, for the teachers fare the same as their own families. If it were absolutely necessary for the Board to retrench, would it not be fairer to reduce slightly the salaries of the town head-masters ? If Mr. Woodward had said they were better paid now, no one could have denied his statement, as they are at present paid on the "working" instead of the " strict average."— am, etc., Fair Plat.