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Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 59, 16 April 1914, Page 6

It is evident that the lot of the average school teacher \ at Home is \ neither better nor worse-than that of his colonial brother. In the Old i Country, even as here, the emoluments of the profession are not sufficient to attract able-bodied and able-minded men in any number. The salary, even after years of experience and study, is absurdly inadequate in many cases, and the general outlook for male teachers is so unpromising that every year sees more and more young men refusing, with a great unanimity, to enter the schools. They recognise that their university training can serve them better in other walks of life, where promotion comes mainly as the result of merit. The prizes of the scholastic profession, such as they are, are few and far between, and the reasonably dividual with a penchant for letters, tiafs come to see that there is wider scope for his" peculiar talents elsewhere. Meanwhile women are flocking to the schools. They take to the work lho're naturally than.'' do the men, and are con- J tent to accept a' lower salary. For years past the Education Department I has had a 1 '•' 'tremehdous : difficulty in staffing its ; back country schools, and young women," fresh from the Training. Colleges, are sent into the: back-bloclfs to : face all; the disabilities that accompany settlement beyond the limits of ordinary municipal civilisation/ Training the young mind is preached as an ennobling work, a work than which there;is none more valuable, more permanently useful to the State. It is vain to. place this ideal before bright men (or" women) if'the remuneration that; is .attached to the '' ennobling .work"..' •is not reasonable compensation for talent. The tendency of the men ;to bo. afraid of the teaching profession will do harm to the education system, for disinterested observers agree that however efficiently a woman may train pupils of her own sex, it is only the rare that can handle any but sinail' bovs with success. , •: ]