TEACHERS' RETIRING AGE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2996, 16 August 1911, Page 40

TEACHERS' RETIRING AGE.

TOO OLD AT FIFTY. (Fbom Qua Own Correspondent.) INVERCARGILL, August 5. In the course of his monthly report to the Southland Education Board Inspector Wyllie said i—“ There seems to be an impression, abroad that a teacher who has reached the age of 50 is incapable of good service and unworthy of promotion. With that view I am almost wholly in disagreement. There are undoubtedly some positions in our service for which such a teacher is not the most suitable—for which, in fact, the vigour and enthusiasm of youth are eminently desirable qualifications. But such positions, in our district at least, are comparatively few in number, and rarely available to teachers of the class mentioned. On the other hand', I hold strongly that for most positions in our service the age of 50 is no absolute disqualification. Whatever be the case in other walks of life, there is nothing in the work of educating the young that should make it necessary to relegate the teacher of 50 to the obscurity of private life. Ordinarily he is then capable of at least 10 years more of efficient service, being very far indeed from being physically defective, and being mentally at least as well endowed as ever he was. He has usually acquired by that time a wider and deeper knowledge of child nature, a greater tact and discretion in dealing with parents and coworkers, a loftier will standpoint, and a clearer view of the main problems of education than he had as a callous youth. He is no doubt occasionally too conservative in his views, but it may well be questioned whether his attitude is any more embarrassing than the misguided enthusiasm of youth. For these reasons his claims for consideration are not to be lightly cast aside. Particularly hard is the case of those teachers who, having rendered 20, or it may be 30, years efficient service in the case of education, find themselves, through no fault of their own; but through an unavoidable fall in grade, reduced in present means and future prospects, with no chance of retrieving their position. Any scheme of promotion under which such a case is possible is clearly to that extent at least defective.”