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AN UNPOPULAR PROFESSION

WHY THERE IS A SHORTAGE OF SCHOOL TEACHERS.

Sir,—May I, as a country teacher, (respass on your space for the purpose of enumerating some of tho causes which., have' led to the present- disfavour in which the teaching profession is held, and in particular the lot of the country teacher, thus bringing about the short, ago of teachers alluded to in your columns during the last few days? 1. Salaries.—Without a doubt the teach, ing profession is the poorest paid profession in the Dominior. to-day. This fact is already eo well known that there- is no necessity' to labour the point, but a com. parison' of the snlnries offered in the ca.se of school vacancies advertised with those in other walks of life ifi convincing in' this particular. 2. Residences and House Allowances.— It will generally be found by those who care to inquire into the matter that while, an up-to-date dwelling with every comfort and convenience is provided for tlip constable, the postmaster, and other public officials, in many cases the lcss> said about the schoolruaster's residenct) the better. With regard to house allow an'ce, teachers of grade 2 schools are granted the lnunifiqent sum of 12s. a week with Which to provide a home. Id these days of high rents it can well lw imagined what a comfortable home a married teacher can provide for his family on such an allowance.- , . 3. Country Schools.—Tlie chairman of the Wellington Education Board has recently referred to the great difficulty experienced in providing teachers for these schools. The reason for such a state of affairs is not far to seek when we consider the 'disabilities and discomforts under which such teachers labour. If ho is single he will experience the great" est difficulty in securing suitable accommodation, and' more often than not Is only accommodated on sufference. If a married man , he will find that he will have to pa-y considerably, more for hid groceries, etc., than in Down, owing W the heavy freight charge? accruing owing to distance from the railway. He finds that there is not sufficient ground provided to keep a horse or a cow, and that the coach fare to the nearest railway station is so exorbitant that it is onlj on rare occasions that he can afford to pay a visit to civilisation. If, in spite of these disabilities, he accepts an appointment to a school in the back-blocks, he is compelled- to pay his own rtmovj expenses,.which are now so heavy that hn is crippled financially, and also kuowd quite well that after years of service in the country he will again have to face the heavy cost of removal from the backblocks if appointed to a 6chool nearer civilisation. 4. Working Conditions—While the town teacher has to contend with huge classes, the sole teacher in the country is faced with the nerve-racking and impossible task of dealing in a satisfactory mannerwith six standards end twee infante classes at the same time, with a crowded syllabus to cover, and'in a building generally devoid of an atom of comfort.. To sum up, married men in charge ot sole teacher country schools receive sucli poor remuneration for their work that in spite of the most rigid" economy they find it almost impossible to provide good food and clothing for their families, and have not the slightest chance .of saving foi a Tainy day. In the face of these facts is it any wonder that the teaching profession is unpopular to-day and that such great difficulty is experienced in filling 'vacancies as they occur? • , Trusting that an abler pen than mine will take this matter up and continue the campaign for better conditions and at least a living wage for those on whom falls the tnsk of preparing for the battle of lifo the men and women of tomorrow,-! am, etc. ntryteacheßi .

May 24, 1919.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19190526.2.59

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 206, 26 May 1919, Page 6

Word count
Tapeke kupu
650

AN UNPOPULAR PROFESSION Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 206, 26 May 1919, Page 6

AN UNPOPULAR PROFESSION Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 206, 26 May 1919, Page 6

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