ORGANISING TEACHERS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VI, Issue 1735, 5 September 1919, Page 7

ORGANISING TEACHERS.

To the Editor of THE SUN. Sir, —The Education Department’s intention of appointing organising teachers for groups of country schools has been well advertised. We have by implication been asked to admire the originality of the scheme, the boldness of its conception, and the far-reaching importance of its possibilities. Some of us have awaited, almost with bated breath, the publication of details. We well knew the need of such teachers, and we knew also that the need arose largely through the department’s own shortsighted policy. The centralisation of rural schools has scarcely been attempted, and the great dearth of qualified teachers is, in part at least, the harvest produced by a policy of minimum pay and allowance to young teachers. However, the organising teacher, who must be an expert of no small experience, is to go to the assistance of the rural teachers and to the rescue of the country children. He, or she, will direct the practical education of some 400 or 500 pupils; and the department, in order to secure the appointment of such an expert, offers the munificent salary of £340, rising to £3BO (on a pre-war basis about £200). This is quite consistent with past policy. The work of national education in all its ramifications must be underpaid, ill-equipped, semi-starved. The general public do not know it, are hardly interested in it, so the policy is a safe one. One of our leading statesmen has said that the Education Department is not a moneyearning department, but a spending one, so it cannot expect the liberal treatment accorded to others. When a political leader can talk in that strain there appears to be little hope for radical reform till the people themselves rise and demand that their children shall have the best, and nothing but the best, the State can provide. The salary offered to organising teachers will certainly not tempt the best talent available. But the scheme will be partially successful; it will achieve at least something; and, above all, we shall have got it cheap. That, in educational matters, has always been the crowning excellence. —I am, etc., H. E. PENLINGTON.