AN UNATTRACTIVE PROFESSION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2923, 23 March 1910, Page 52

AN UNATTRACTIVE PROFESSION.

LACK OF SUITABLE TEACHERS. " THE HAND OF WOMAN." (From Our Own Correspondent.) INVERCARGILL, March 20. In the course of their annual report to the Education Board, Inspectors Hendry and Wyllie stated that they considered that on the character of work done in the schools the board had every reason to be satisfied with the zealous devotion of its teachers to their work, with the conduct, manners, and industry of the pupils attending the schools, and generally with the educational progress of the district. At the same time, it was a matter of regret- that so many schools should remain in charge of uncertificated teacfters, many of whom, through no lack of industry or zeal, but by reason of imperfect education .and inexperience in the art of teaching, failed to accomplish satisfactorily the task allotted them. It was difficult to suggest a remedy for that state of things. It was apparent that few young people of anything above moderate ability were attracted by the prospects of teaching in the back-blocks. Such a career, though it had its compensations, was undoubtedly one of considerable hardship and difficulty. It seriously restricted social intercourse of an elevating character, imposed a course of study extremely arduous and burdensome, and in the majority of cases failed to lead to material prosperity. FEMALE TEACHERS. The excess of female over male teachers - in Southland was the subject of comment at the Education Board annual meeting, and Mr D. Gilchrist remarked that it did not seem encouraging that there were only three male probationers as against 13 females. Mr W. Macalister remarked that it was a well-known fact that the profession of teaching Was gradually drifting into the hands of women. It did not appear to have attractions for boys. He understood , that in America the teachers were almost entirely women. He believed that where there was only one teacher aad that teacher was a woman, the instruction given was just as good as in other schools, j So, perhaps, there was no reason for com- , plaint. However, it was possibly not quite the right.thing that boys should be in the hand of women throughout their school days. J The Chairman (Mr T. Masgibbon) considered that it was advisable that male teachers should have charge of boys, although he did not deny that extremely good work was performed by the female staff. The board, however, was con-

stantly in receipt of a, large number of i applications for leave of absence caused j through the ill health of female teachers, and that was a drawback to the sex. Further, he hardly thought the usual run of women had quite sufficient firmness or fitness for school management. He was of opinion that the fact that manual labour earned a better rate of pay than teaching, accounted for the falling off of male teachers in the Dominion.