TEACHERS’ SALARIES.

Southland Times, Issue 22297, 12 April 1934, Page 9

TEACHERS’ SALARIES.

To the Editor,

Sir,—l wish to bring before the public notice the exact position of the younger teachers in New Zealand, under the new scheme of finding work for all at a reduced salary. In some cases it does not seem so hard, that is where the teacher is at home, and has that £6O a year to live on; but taking the position of the teacher who is away and pays board at the recognized rate of 25/- per week out of a salary of £B4 per annum—what is there then left for him? Take from this his superannuation, subscription, and wages tax monthly, and on the rest it is not possible to live. Even this is not so bad if the teacher in this position were an extra on the staff, without responsibility, but just desiring to keep in touch with his work. However, there are cases where teachers paid at this rate have charge of a complete section of children, maybe one standard of two, and are held directly responsible for the progress of these children, a responsibility which calls for extra work before school hours and after. It does ‘seem as though the system is an exploitation of these teacriers. The Teachers’ Institute, it is true, voiced approval, but the members of the institute as a whole are not affected. The teacher in the larger school paid at this salary and in the circumstances I mention, has to do, I suggest, equally as much work as any other member of the staff, and do it practically for nothing. Does it not seem that at least the salary might have been left at the old rate of £lOO per annum, with the £36 board allowance? Surely any teacher who has the responsibility of teaching a whole class or maybe two, might have his services valued to this extent. Educationalists may say they have in part solved the problem of the unemployed teachers—but is this a solution?—l am, etc., A FRIEND OF YOUTH.