Those Education Notes

Southland Times, Issue 11388, 20 February 1890, Page 2

Those Education Notes

TO THS EDITOR.

Sir,— With all deference to your correapondent, "Eair Play," I would like to express an opinion that the writer of " Education Notes" has done good in drawing public attention to our Southland pupilteacher system. One who engages as a pupil-teacher does so expecting that, after serving out the proper term and completing the required round of studies, he or she will have opportunities for making a living by teaching. Now, ia this the case ? I think, Sir, it is time that either the Southland Education Board or else the Educational Institute, or the two conjointly, opened up investigations to answer the ail-impor-tant question, " What becomes of our passed pupil-teachers?" Young men and young women are being induced into the work ol pupil teachers, as men follow an ignis fatuua j there is not sufficient expansion of <f_r system to get them placed after passing their final exam. , and they must be cast adrift to get married (if women), to enter some other profession (if men), or they must become probationers waiting-on till some benevo-lently-inclined school committee gives them a position. Your correspondents both be> tray a weakness in favour of encouraging the system, possibly they both have something to gain by the appointment or training of pupil teachers, but, I say most emphatically, it is time, high time, that the training of teachers in tbis little community waa suspended, if not discontinued. It coats publio money to begin with, and it launches young people half way into a profession which is already too full. The bribe of payment for training a pupil teacher bays over many a headmaster who in his heart knows that hia pupil at the expiration of the term of training will probably have to turn to some other frofession or branch of the public service.— am,-c, Scbiptob, Southland, 19th Feb., 1890.