The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 9, 1911. TOO OLD AT FIFTY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 143, 9 August 1911, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 9, 1911. TOO OLD AT FIFTY.

in his monthly report to the Southland Education Board, Inspector Wyllio said there seemed to he an impression abroad that a teacher who has reached the age of fifty is incapable of good service and unworthy of promotion. With that view ho was almost wholly in disagreement. There were, undoubtedly, some positions in the service for which such a teacher was not the most suitable; for which in fact the vigour and enthusiasm of youth were eminently desirable- qualifications. But such positions a.re comparatively few in number, and raroL teachers of the class mentioned. On the other hand, Its hold strongly that, for most position in the service, the age of fifty is no absolute disqualification. Whatever be rite case in other walks of life, there was nothing in the work of educating the young that should make it necessary to relegate the teacher of fifty to the obscurity of private life. Ordinarily lie was then capable of at least ton years more of efficient service, being very far indeed from being physical! ■. defective, and being mentally at least as well endowed as over he was. 31c had usually acquired, by that time a wider and deeper knowledge of child nature, a greater tact and discretion in dealing with parents and co-work-ers, a loftier moral standpoint, and a clearer view of the main problems of education than he had as a callow youth. He was, no doubt, occasionally too conservative in his views, but it might well be questioned whcthci his attitude was any more embarrassing than the misguided enthusiasm o! youth. For these reasons his claims for consideration were not to he lightly cost aside. 'Particularly hard was, Inspector Wyllic thought, the case of those teachers who, having rendered twenty, nr it may be thirty, years’ efficient service in the cause of education, find themselves out through me faults of their own—out 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 sneh a case is possible was < loarly, to that extent r.t least, defective.