THE CAUSE OF EDUCATION

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 10085, 26 September 1918, Page 6

THE CAUSE OF EDUCATION

i'lo the Editor ' S.'-. limes.") Sir,—Xnero are frequenu aaseuiuues oi li „ii a. U.J.IC t.Ltv:ilu.oli ...„.>, 11V>>vet u- v.*\e.i-evt Aiom Lue .ua.n jiOlllt at "x\ u ■' ',cLv.uluiiiw,.u»iUa auiaUCcU Willi i. we uL-tii so nui>-" .tbout, aurioutcu tu tae iiii-pe. ( ~,U»C ;UCUulSUllfi-b Mll.Cil ul'O 18,-uons.Oie ,-uons.Oie ior lue iiuun uiUicu.t^. ' in Aew zieuuiua we liuVe m Vlio Past ,o.i years u.uieaceu a steady ueen.no in UlO UUiulxi- of ceitllicaieu uau.ic.s, essiiwo the uegmnmg of tne war. ,atu»a.K- tills Is out a reilex oil a ouuiner scale oi what Jias tanen piace in Ciio uiu Lountiy, but t.iere an awakening ~; u lU uen-Ci.v nnanlested lteelt and decHc-i-l sups nave oten tj.iieii in tue inrecaoji n lhCitaMiii! tue salar.es oi tho teaeners !■■•' moiL=3.KU. a.nere c<ui oe no nope oi a * ,Ui.ar uuoiov-enuuit here unless the present ucciuie in the number of quanued a'ueneis •-» arrested ami rile snortoge .uu..e up. Kesoiutions nave been coming n irom aii sides recommending the re-

oi tile size oi ieiint-iieii-uiu' tile scuooi liie of pupils, extellU.i;a •jiti pi-ugiamiue of work, etc., etc., but wiese piam must all wait upon an meieaso in the strength of tue teaching ioree. . ~ , , vt the present time, owing to tho iuc ui.i.l many teaciiers nave responded to

wie call of our battleuelds. tiiei« is a neavv strain upon tiiose remaining. Auu»'d to this is a shorthso of aspirants tor umor -teaching positions as the pay offerod is small and the work arduous, de- ,. iiul.ng such time for preparation and Vudv while all. the time the prospects tor advanceuiL.it are not suniciently in-.i-active. Therefore nianv young teach.'is avo merely usintr the teaching, pro.ossion as a stepping-off place for more acrative and more highly-esteemed professions—such as law, medicine, the .-.iiucu, journalism, etc. Vet when we consider that fine teachers help to niake iiuo citizens such loss of promising ma-,--rial is greatly to be deplored. If even the present standard of primary education is to be maintained, and tiiis is sadly below the standard reached bflfore the war, some serious efforts must bo made to lighten the burden of the leachers and relieve the strains imposed upon the whole profession. in tho inteiests of public efficiency, tho State must not allow the n.sii.; srerieration to be neglected in such a vita, "iatter as elementary education. Upon he sh< ulders of the pupils oi to-day will fall tho solution of those problems that .'.wait the close of the great war.—l am, etc..

THE PROPHET. Wellington, September 25th.