UNEMPLOYED TEACHERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19974, 16 June 1928, Page 14

UNEMPLOYED TEACHERS.

Sir, —I can corroborate the statements made by Mr. J. Armstrong, secretary of the Auckland branch of the New Zealand Institute, that unemployment of teachers is by no mean confined to the student teachers, as I happen to know of a lady teacher with 20 years' teaching experience in the Auckland Province, a born colonial, not the imported article, and with excellent reports from some of the leading inspectors and headmasters of this Dominion, who has not had a permanent position for four and a-halt years, only spasmodic relieving work during that period, mostly in country schools. The total time employed in thus relieving during the four and a-half years would not exceed 13 months, the balance .being ' unemployed, thus jeopadising her superannuation and future prospects in life. As only permanent teachers are eligible to join the superannuation fund, of which she has been, a member for 20 years, it seems, an anomaly .that she should be in the ranks of the unemployed. Where is the security of-tenure? 'llia lady in question is single and finds it a great struggle to keep up her payments to the superannuation fund out of her meagre spasmodic pay. This is cruelly unjust treatment to. a conscientious, experienced, long-service teacher, and something must be verv wrong somewhere when an organisation" thus permits on* of its members to be so unfairly treated. This lady, has applied again and again for a jiermaiietit position, but always with the- same re-' suit, "nothing doing." "Hope deferred maketh the ; heart sick" is well applied in this case, and she only asks for a fair deal in her own country andjn the profession for which she has qualined. Observer.