A TEACHERS' UNION.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1956, 13 January 1914, Page 8

A TEACHERS' UNION.

NOT TO BE TOLERATED. A HEADMASTER'S VIEWS, The proposal that teachers should form themselves into an industrial union mot with few supporters when discussed before tho New Zealand Educational Institute. The subject was again referred to yesterday by -Mr. W. T. Gryiidv, headmaster of tho Clyde Quay School, in conversation with a Dominion reporter. Air. Grundy, who has been appointed a member "of the Executive of the Institute, returned to Wellington from Auckland on Saturday. Speaking directly ort tho abovo question Mr. Grundy said: "So far as Wellington City and Suburbs are concerned I know thero is no sympathy with such a proposal." Ho went on to point out tlipt, in the first place, teachers had a superannuation fund, and anything that would tend to endanger tli6 teachers' position with regard to that fund would be of groat moment to them.

Tnere has been no really tangible grievance felt by tho teachers to warrant the demand for a union, says Mr. Grundy. M»st> teachers ' realiso that the schools oxist mainly for the children, and that anything that would tend to interfere with the children's education could not be tolerated by tho people of tho colony for one moment. It was inconceivable, ho held, that the teachers could bo allied with a Trades Council. Tho interests of the children would suffer materially if they were not enabled to proceed with their education. These views were, generally held bv tho teachers attending tho institute, and tho proposal .which emanated from Hawke's Bay found but half, a dozen supporters. Mr. Grundy's firm conviction is that the Educational Institute lias been of great use to the teachers, and its use was not by any means exhausted. The very fact that the Government so readily recognised that tho pay of teachers was not sufficient showed that thero was no necessity to take extreme measures.

The question of teachers' salaries was also one of vital importance considered, and the feeling was that something should be done, particularly with repaid to teachers in tho lower grades. The country teacher, to Jlr. Grundy's mind, most certainly deserved first consideration. That was tho general opinion of tho institute. Tho country schools were being largely officered now by uncertificated teachers because certificated teachers .could not bo obtained, and it was only by bettering the condition of teachers in the country districts that properly qualified men and women would be found to occupy those positions. Teachers in tho higher grades would have to- be satisfied that the main increase in salaries should co there.

The impression wa3 largely held at the institute that there -were not a great number of sub-normal children in New Zealand, but it was felt that in tho cities, in ono of tho more important schools, provision should bo ■made by means of special classes, for instruction of these siib-normal pupils. That could be done in a city like Wellington, where ono.of the schools might have a special teacher' appointed, who could be trained to deal with such children.

In futuro the Educational Institute will hold its meetings in and a special meeting has been called for next July. This will enable represontations from the institute •to be placed before Parliament.