SALARIES OF TEACHERS

Waikato Times, Volume 93, Issue 14492, 15 October 1920, Page 6

SALARIES OF TEACHERS

ALL-ROUND INCREASES. INDUCEMENT FOR COUNTRY SERVICE. The Minister for Education, Hon. C. J. Parr, has announced the expected increases to teachers’ salaries. Mr Parr stated that there were over 7000 teachers concerned. The Minister for Finance (Mr Massey) had been able to give him a quarter of a million pounds this year for additions to teachers’ salaries. In distributing this money he had given special consideration to the future of the profession, as well as to present necessities. Mis main object had been to make the teaching profession more attractive to young people. He had given consideration to the interests of the country child. Over 30 per cent, of the children were being taught in country schools largely staffed by uncertificated teachers. He desired to remedy this evil. By bette” pay he hoped to induce the able assistant to go to the country. The Department would increase the capitation lo tlie back-block schools to £1,7 per bea t per annum. The salaries of schools of grades one. two, and three (average attendance ranging from nine to one hundred and twenty) had been materially increased. These increases ranged from £7O to a maximum of £l2O for the last two years. The result should bo that no teacher could reasonably refuse, hereafter, to take a country school. The salaries of infant mistresses and senior women assistants in largei schools had also been raised a grade. This was in addition to the ordinary increases.

Native school teachers would receive the same increments as primary school teachers. A special allowance of £lO. in addition to the ordinary increment, will be added lo the house and married allowances as some recognition of the responsibilities of the family man. Licensed teachers will receive a flat rate increase of £3O. Uncerlillcated teachers, of whom there is a large number, will receive an increase of £2O, subject, however, to a provision that next year, when Ibc inspectors shall have been able to make a broad classification separating the most efficient from the others, this scale will be modified in favour of a somewhat bighei payment to the more claim varies very greatly in efficiency. Under the new scale all pupil teachers and probationers will serve for two years as such, and then undeigo two years 1 training at the Training College.* In their fifth year they may take up permanent positions as assistants or teachers of small schools. For the first four years male entrants to the teaching profession receive at least the same salary as cadets in the Public Service. Girls receive only £7 less, but appointment to the Public Service is practically closed to girls, and an initial salary of £2 as per week, which wc now offer for girls of 16 or 17 years of age, would not be easily obtainable in any other occupation. In Hicir fifth year both men and women ex-students may receive a minimum salary of £IBO per annum, but they may commence at £2OO. or even £230, if they are prepared to take a position in the country, whereas for the fifth year the. Public Service offers E 1 •> 0 only. The Public Service scale shows that after entering the Public Servic'’ as a cadet a young man at the end of 11 years will receive, £290 per annum, hut. a voting teacher, either male or female, could without difficulty reach a salary of £330 at the same age. The minimum salary for an assistant teacher will now be £IBO for even the less efficient teachers. Those with better qualifications can commence at £l9O, even in the lowest grade. By taking one of the numerous vacant positions now offering in medium-sized country schools the young assistant may commence at £220, and proceed to £27*o, without promotion, or may take charge of a small school at a minimum salary of £230 and proceed without promotion lo £3OO. Promotions from any of these positions to others with a higher maximum can readily be obtained by any certificated teacher of average efficiency. The salaries of all >madcs of assistant teachers have been increased during the past two years by from £9O to £l2O, and under the new scale the range of salary for assistants will be from a minimum of £l6O to a maximum of £470. The increases to the salaries of head teachers during the past two years alone range from £IOO to £l2O. Ihe maximum salary for a school with o\ei .’,BO pupils is £6OO. but if a District High School is attached an additional allowance of £3O or £7O will be paid, making the total £670. Home critics have led Hie public to believe that a headmaster’s salary is the highest a teacher can reach, but it was not stated that there arc about 70 inspectorships with salaries ranging up to £7OO per annum, and that all of these positions are filled from Hie ranks of the leaching profession. A new scale for the salaries of technical and secondary school teachers has been completed, but this cannot be brought into operation until the Amendment Act now under the consideration of the Government has the approval of Parliament.