DISCONTENT AMONG

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1815, 30 July 1913, Page 8

DISCONTENT AMONG

TEACHERS.

BETTER CONDITIONS SOUGHT.

The following letter hag been addressed by liio is' ew Zealand Educational Institute) to members of both Houses of tho Legislature "You are no doubt well awaro that there lias been for some time a growing feeling of discontent among teachers witli tho conditions of their service. As rcpvesentinj the primary school teachers of the Dominion, cue executive of tho New Zealand Educational Institute desires to bring directly and forcibly before you tho chiet cause of this discontent, that is to say, the inadequate salaries that they receive. Throughout tho length and breadth of the land the samo complaint is heard, not from tiie teachers alone, but from almost alt persons who realise tho importance of education iu the building np of the citizenship of the nation, it is felt that the time has arrived when a strong demand should bo made for ah illcrease in the payment of teachers, and to that end lam directed to invite your careiui consideration of a few of the leasons that are relied upon as justifying the demand. Summarised a 9 briefly as their importance will permit, they are:— (a) The work of euueation is of such importance to tho well-being of tho Stato that no sacrilico is too great tor securing tho best men and women tor that work, and at the present time this is very'far li'om being ell'ected. • (b) The teaching profession does not attract to its ranks tho brightest of our young people, or even retain thoso who do enter it. It is common, knowledge that many of tho best young women aUd most of tho young men only enter tho profession for tho purpose ot completing their education for sonio moro favoured field of action. (c) Not only in comparison with other branches of the Public Service, but also witln tho inducements of professional and commercial life does tho teaching profession suffer. From the time of his entry as pupil teacher or probationer until ho retires on his pension, the teacher is subjected to tho kuowlcdgo that his salary is less—in many cases a great deal less— than that of other public servants whoso work is less responsible, whoso training is less arduous, whose work is freer from unuoyances, and v;ho is l'reo also from the fear of reduction in pay or pension. (d) Since tho last revision of teachers' salaries (hero lias been a marked advanco in tho cost of living. This has been compensated for in almost every other known calling—teachers alone have been left to suffer, and aro now actually in receipt of less remuneration than they were seven years ago, that is to say, iu the purchasing power of their salaries. (e) A very large proportion of tho children of tliis Dominion are taught in country schools, and*) it is a standing grievance of tho settlers in remoto districts that they are handicapped in relation to the education of their children by the difficulty of getting good teachers to stay in those districts. Tho only possible remedy is the payment of such salaries as will induce teachers of experience and efficiency to make their homes in the country. (f) The people of tho Dominion pay over .£1,000,000 per annum for tobacco, and over ,£4,000,000 for alcohol. This shows, and tho state of the public accounts offers further proof, that there is no lack of means to pay reasonable salaries for the education of the young, and the utterances of public men and tho writings of the public press make it clear that there is 110 lack of will. All that is needed is that Parliament should carry it into effect. (g) There aro practically no prizes in tho profession, and none aro asked for— there is therefore the greater need for a reasonable average salary. In this connection it may be of interest to note that even in England tho demand has been set up for a minimum salary for teachers of ■£200 a year. It would be quite easy to add oilier items to this statement of tho teachers' claim for consideration—and even of what has been set down much must already I>9 well known, to you. Teachers throughout the Dominion aro looking to Parliament for consideration of a claim tho justice of which cannot be aainsaid,