Pupil Teachers in New Zealand.

White Ribbon, Volume 2, Issue 20, 1 February 1897, Page 8

Pupil Teachers in New Zealand.

We are heartily glad to notice that the Rev. Canon Bates, who has recently visited England and looked into the primary education system there in vogue, lias raised his voice in protest

against oar New Zealand system of training teachers. That the pupil teacher’s life is not exactly a bed of roses, most persons, we believe, will readily admit. The Eight Hours Bill does not apply to these growing lads and lassies. Teaching is confessedly hard work, taxing severely both mind and body. Yet, in addition to the five hours spent in actual teaching, in many cases in an abominable atmosphere, the boy and girl teachers have two hours or more tuition at school from the head master, and then return to their homes, not to enjoy rest, seek amusement, or take outdoor exercise as best suits their fancy, but to spend two, three, four, or even five hours poring over books. Verily in this respect the State is a hard taskmaster. Numbers of teachers throughout N Z. realise that the cause of a weakened constitution is to be traced to their pupil teacher days. And numbers, too, recognise that they are out of touch with much that is transpiring in the world of thought and action, simply from the fact that their daily occupation has so completely absorbed their time and strength. To this absorption, too, may probably be traced the very prevalent idea among day-school teachers that the scholastic world of thought and study is the universe. That this narrow life on the part of the teacher must react prejudicially on the children under his care there can be but little doubt.

The remedy, we believe, is in so increasing our staff of pupil teachers, that, as in the London Board schools, but half the day need be spent in teaching, the remainder being given to study And with mind and body so much the fresher, the purely students’ work could be managed in much less time than at present, and the youths and maidens who serve their day and generation as pupil teachers would have time to take part in the ordinary life and thought of their fellows.