TEACHER'S SALARIES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 5, 1 October 1918, Page 8

TEACHER'S SALARIES

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—Judging from reports in The Dominion all Departments of the Government service stem to be demanding increases in their salaries. All! Did I say all? No, Sir, not all—tho New Zealand Educational Institute, which is supposed to represent the teachers of New Zealand, is not making a demand for teachers generally, and is, like the Cabinet of the so-called National Government, damning the future of teaching in every sense of the word. The profession, to put it bluntly, is "going to the dogs," for there is a dearth of suitable and men are as rare as a swallow in winter, while of the men who are in it many aro only waiting a favourable chance to leave it.

The Minister of Education lias been called all manner of hard names, but I am convinced that he is. the best friend the teachers have had in the office. Why, then, is so little done for the teachers? Because, Sir, the great majority of the members of the Cabinet are opposed to spending one penny more on education ihat it is compelled to.

The poor, underpaid, and very often overworked teachers of this rich Dominion have for too long been deceived by the fair words of time-serving politicians, whoso ohiof object was to capture a seat. These said teachers have at last recognised that there is only one way to gain their undoubted rights, and that is to become a political force in the land. When the.educational campaign started l it was found that the teachers had the sympathy of the public from the North Cape to the Bluff, but this sympathy finds no reflection iu the- National Cabinet, save in the Minister of Education, and yet we are supposed to live in a country where Cabinet reflects the will of the people. Apparently the members of Cabinet are not yet .seized of the fact that the teachers can be a political force, but I can assnra them that tl'ey will soon realise it, perhaps too late to savo their seats. .

We are just now waging a great war, and when the man-killing part of it is over, it is agreed on all hands tbat as cruel an economic war will be waged, and I .would ask you, Sir, is this National Government preparing to light in that war? That is, is it educating the children in the best possible manner? I say most emphatically that it is not, and that unless it puts its educational house in order right here and now, this country will not be able to keep in the van of nations. It is recognised by all thinking persons'that the success of the nation depends upon the mental and moral qualities of lier people being of the highest possible character, and unless these arc of the highest, the nation must drop behind and finally perish. These qualities .can only be developed by education of the best and highest type, and no steps are being taken to insure that this will be so, for the "brains" of the country are being attracted to other Departments of Government service and other professions by the very superior remuneration and A very fair proportion of these "brains" could be attracted into "the profession" on which depends the efficiency of every other profession if the- salaries were commensurate with the work and'the responsibilities entailed. , Finally, the profession is on the down grade, and if the National Government is prepared to do something for the teachers and make the- profession what it ought to be, the best paid and most respected of Government services, lot it say so at once, before it is too late, for if this is not speettily done, the profession as a profession is doomed.—l am, etc., TEACHER,