THE FATE OF SCHOOLMASTERS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XVII, Issue II, 11 July 1896, Page 57

THE FATE OF SCHOOLMASTERS.

From inquiries I have been recently making (a representative of Cassel's Journal writes), it appears that the present time is an exceedingly critical one for a certain class of schoolmasters, and very disastrous for any man even of the highest attainments who vacates his position on the offchance of bettering himself. Sad cases there are in plenty of schoolmasters with nothing to do and nothing to live upon. One of the finest classical scholars in this

country, a man perfectly acquainted with no end of dead languages and the holder of a high University degree to boot, was, some two years ago, reduced, after a prolonged fight with poverty, to taking refuge in the police force. He had been in receipt of a good salary at a first-rate school, but through some cause or other be relinquished hie post, never realising bow difficult it would be to get another. Another man, a distinguished German professor and author and brilliant linguist, threw up a substantial position to grasp at a shadow in the shape of a house mastership. His application for the post was unsuccessful, and, what is more, he was never able to secure a mastership again. The writer saw him in penury, with scarcely a decent rag to his back. A well-known expert on scholastic matters in the course of an interview I had with him, was able to give some sad particulars concerning schoolmasters who have practically no chance whatever of obtaining scholastic work.

* I could tell yon of many schoolmasters who are truly in a most pitiable plight,’ he began. * Some really clever men who have occupied excellent positions, at times have not had a place to sleep in. There are some dreadful cases of this kind. I know some old schoolmasters who are so reduced in circumstances that they go about canvassing and addressing envelones. * One man who formerly had a good post had to undertake the duties of messenger and doorkeeper at a theatre. I assuie you that some old masters are in positively the last stage—some, indeed, with no soles to their boots. ’ * But how is it that these men sink so low in the social scale ?'

* When once a schoolmaster drops out it is extraordinarily hard for him to get into harness again. I know a sad case of a very able man who had to relinguish his mastership on account of ill health. He never got another appointment at a school.

‘Just now I believe the applications for relief at the various charities which concern themselves with distressed schoolmasters are just double what they were ten years ago. I know some old schoolmasters of eighty and ninety years of ace who are literally kept alive by public charities.

* Then, again, you have to bear in mind the question of age. There is a great rage

for youth at the present time. Experience goes to the wall, and if a man isn’t a distinguished athlete be finds it difficult to obtain a mastership in a big school. Many old men of ripe experience can do absolutely nothing. Farther, they are not fitted for anything else bnt school life, so what are they to do? ‘Yes, the present mast 'be a terrible time for schoolmasters who have neither youth nor good degrees to back them. Many of the out-of-works have been headmasters of grammar-schools ; but their age prevents their ever hoping to find similar employment again. They are thus left stranded with nothing more than a few pence to bless them. Scores of instances might be cited. Amongst the ranks of unemployed schoolmasters at the present day are many blind men who simply have nothing save misery to live for. * One reason is that our system of education is undergoing a complete transformation. The men who are worst off are those who occupy a place midway between the public schools and the Board schools. Many of them have no degrees, and headmasters insist on high degrees nowadays. The fact that the non-University man is dying out of our schools explains why there are so many schoolmasters out of work and in a half-starving condition. One assistantmaster I used to know was in the workhouse for a long time.’ * But haven’t these unfortunate people saved any money ?’ * I should like to know bow they possibly could have saved on the beggarly pittances they have been in the habit of receiving all their lives. There is a certain class of private school, of which the less said the better, where the assistant master is remunerated at the rate of thirty pounds a year. On this magnificent sum he has to dress well and keep himself during vacation time. The competition of the Board schools is smashing theseso-calledscholastic establishments, but at the same time it is driving the poor masters into the towns.’