NEGLECTED SCHOOLS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 148, 18 March 1920, Page 7

NEGLECTED SCHOOLS

PROFESSOR'S OUTSPOKEN CRITICISM ABOUT UNQUALIFIED TEACHERS "New Zealand Jias money for everything but . its schools," said Professor T. Hunter to the Women Teachers' Association last night. The neglect of the schools, oE the teaching profession, and of education generally, continued the proleasor, was miude possible by tho attitude of the general community. It appeared that the nation regarded property ns being of more importance than humanity. A man who was to practise as a .lawyer, a doctor, or even a plumber, required to be 1 certificated and .•'censed, because the public demanded that he should bo efficient. But anybody was allowed to bo a teacher, and move than SB per cent, of the teachers now employed in tho primary schools lacked even the lowest of the qualifications specified if.. the Education Act. Tli.e short.i.M of qualified teachers, said Pi'ofissui- iTilncer, was due directly to the bau coiiuituus. of the profession and the low Bcflo Pflyment. This fact was I'ccognised, but it was not remedied owing to the persistence of the old idea that the teaching of the children was a task of no particular importance. Tho nation had not realised that the teachers had a greater influence for or for evil than any other section of tho community. The teaching profession remained less attractive than almost any other profession; its conditions caused the best men and women to get c-ut of it. _ Teachors wero scarce, because the nation had not learned that they mattered. - When the economic crash oamo in Now Zealand, ns come it surely would, the teaching profession woiild bo flooded, because people' could' enter it practically without any qualifications at all. A man could not drive a motor unless he was. licensed, he could not throw coal into the furnaces of a steamer unless lie had served for a, certain period as a .trimmer. But the men turned away from these occupations were qualified, under present conditions, to teach the childTen. The mere fact that persons without Qualifications were allowed to teach had a debasing effect on the teaching profession. added Professor Hunter.- It was a well-known fact that a debased currency would always drive out good currency. That was whv the bank notes had driven ■ the gold out of sight in New Zealand. Similarly tho admission of unqualified psonle to the teaching profession mado it. unattractive to good teachers, and tho tendency was for the poorest touchers to remain in nossession. The new Minister of .Education would find, when he looked into tho matter, that his choice of teachors was not wide. It was hopeless to look for improvement under present conditions. A teacher should not merely be trained: he should also be. selected, and there Should be an authority emnowered to say to a young man 'or a voung woman, at any period of 'training, "Get out. You are not fitted for this vitallv important work." But as a matter of fact norsons of scant ability and small attainments were allowed to use the teaching profession as a means of earning bread and butter, regardless' of tho interests of the children. Professor Hunter suggested that teachers themselves should show more courage in facing tho facts and seeking remedies. Thcv should not bo afraid to 6ay what thev knew about educational matters. "No improvement will be mado in education in this country unless some people's feelings are hurt,' remnTked the professor.