OPEN COLUMN

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4296, 4 March 1901, Page 7

OPEN COLUMN

COMMERCIAL EDUCATION. Dr. Levinge writes:—The recent remarks of the “Times” on this subject come at a good time, for one of the three R.’s is being rapidly supplanted by ‘every man becoming bis ov.-n printer’’— the machine and type coming from U.S.A. How the education magnates look on and feel I cannot say. I have, indeed, often tried to find out. It must be very humiliating to them to be paid by the State for teaching writing and to see everyone, the State included, proving they are ashamed of their own handwriting. Put what is the way of meeting the difficulty l J The hand writing on the wall—the ‘‘meno, mene,” etc —has been long in evidence; and the noisy, clicking machine, even with all its defects, shows the possessor is the "swell” who only 1 condescends to sign Ids name. 1 take it die reasons why writing is becoming obsolete are these (Ist) Carelessness, owing to haste in most cases ,rendering writing difficult or impossible to read: (2) slowness of writing—though I hear an ordinary writer will beat a typewriter in speed and not produce the clicking noise in an office. The proper thing for the Education Department undoubtedly s to own their defeat and “learn" strate ■ v from, the "enemy” (.Fas est discere Hostis). The Chinese have even a species of shorthand, by widen marks mean whole sentences. Teach the young ideas shorthand and let them horn ordinary writing as they do marbles. TEACHERS’ SALARIES. At the JanV/iry meeting of the Education Board (writes "Country Teacher”) it was hinted that some of the members of the Wellington Educational Institute hud managed to get themselves - well prodded for in the proposed new ' scale of salaries. What amount of truth ' there is in this I do not know, but I do ; know that the institute represents town : •chools only, because country members cannot attend its meetings. It is a coincidence that the tendency of the new , •calc is to increase the salaries of town ; teachers and to decrease those of countrv teachers. The Hoard’s inspector , -.imports the new scale of salaries on the around that it gives increased pay for ; increased responsibility. The Wellington Education Board has always recognised this principle, but wisely, m my opinion, has refrained from carrying it ha an injurious extreme. I submit that the carrying of it to such an extreme would be unfair (a) because it requires as competent a man G io teach a school of srxty-nine mpils with the helo of one assistant as :-o teach a, school of seventy pupils nitT. the help of two assistants; (b) because J there are many thoroughly competent •enchors in charge of country scuools; c) because the Board cannot_ find posi- j lions in town schools for all its.comp- c lent servants; and (d)--because country •esidents have as good a right to umiletont teaching for their children ns have ? ’-own residents. It would he impolitic because it would lead to an unheal-.by I c feverish competition amongst teivcmvs— pi stHving to “move the world on a j child’s heart ” that is most injurious to ; ho little ones under their charge. Ihc lepartmont abolished the puoncatiou of j percentages of passes in order • o do j away with such competition. Mo the, present administrator s desire to see u t-.im.nant once more? i