PAYMENT OF TEACHERS BY AVERAGE ATTENDANCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12819, 20 March 1905, Page 6

PAYMENT OF TEACHERS BY AVERAGE ATTENDANCE.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—ln hi- speech at the Drill Hall on Tuesday last the Premier elated that "sala-rie-s must ho paid commensurate to - their duties, both to male and female teachers." I would ask, sir, how can teachers be paid commensurate with their duties as long a? their salaries depend on the average attendance at thtii schools? To give a case ia point: A teacher with a school of 40 children has, somehow or other, to do all th© work himself, while a more lucky pedagogue, with an average of 41. not only receives a higher salary, hut also the- services of a fully (|uatiiied assistant. After the average of 41 i- readied, it may he truthfully stated that the greater the attendance the greater the salary and assistance of the head-teacher. It therefore appears that, unless payment by average attendance he abolished, teachers cannot bo justly remunerated according to their duties. Of the average payment system practically nothing can he said in defence; a few of its disadvantages, which are legion, ! would beg space to point out. 1. Payment by average attendance makes the teacher's salary dependent on circumstances beyond his. control. 2. He is not paid according to his work. rank, service, and efficiency. 3. He has repeatedly tho mortification of comparing his lower salary with the higher ones received bv teachers of lower rank, whose .schools have "go an up." while hi-, has "gone down." 4. The country teacher, especially, is placed in a humiliating position among the people who may punish him by sending their children to a more distant school. 5. Epidemics and constant bad weather reduce the salary of the teacher, who. notwithstanding, must attend with the same regularity on his duties. Perhaps at; the same time his own family may need medical attendance. b. Teachers of equal rank and efficiency do not receive the same salary, some receiving Howards of £400, others not more than £150 or £200. In fact, payment by average attendance is go peculiarly unjust to country teachers that it is remarkable that, they have worked sc long under the system. Perhaps it is beratine when they basin tlicii lives as teachers they are not aware of the disadvantages under which they will, later on, have to labour. The pupil-teacher is satisfied (else, he would not enter the profession), but then he is nor raid by the average. It is only when he has left his apprenticeship behind, and is fully qualified for nothing but teaching, that fie awakes to the hopelessness of the situation. Strive as he will, he cannot honestly help himself by increased energy, zeal, and industry; he cannot swell his average when the children are non-ex-istent : ho has no control over the decreasing population, unless he can find husbands for all the plain spinsters in his district. II« must work in another way: he must get his name known in another district; he must degrade himself by soliciting the patronage of members of school committees and education boards. Failing to get a larger school, he must either submit to a reduced salary year by year, or must, begin life afresh in another calling. Of course, this is not the lot of every teacher, but the fact; that it is the fate meted out to a great many efficient members of a difficult and noble profession is alone sufficient to condemn the system of payment by average attendance.— I am, etc.. Ixgexio et Labors.