The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1907.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2192, 23 September 1907, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1907.

THE TEACHING PROFESSION. Olio of the chief defeots in our educational system is the unsatisfactory treatment accorded to our teachers. Theoretically, the teaching profession is the highest in the land. Recognising the fact that an ignorant man or an ignorant woman is a menaco to the community, we tax ourselves willingly to provide free education lor every child, and make its education ,a compulsory matter. Under such circumstances it might reasonably bo 'oxpeotod that we would leave no stone unturned to ensure that men and women of the highest intellect and possessing great nobility of character should be attracted to the teaching profession as a vital necessity for the completo success of the system. To a certain extent wo do obtain the sorvices of such men and women—the records of our schools are sufficient evidence of the fact—but this is duo in the main to a li.igh sense of duty on the part of the ablest members of the profession who place the privileges and responsibilities of their high calling above all financial inducements. As a matter of fact wo not only pay our teachers poorly but wo insist upon their working under a system of classification which is calculated to destroy all worthy incentives and to drive from the ranks of the profession any young man who has confidence in his future. The result of this blundering method is found in the difficulty experienced in all parts of the colony’ of obtaining teachers to fill the vacancies that are constantly occurring. This is particularly noticeable in regard to country soliools, for reasons which will be apparent when the present system is considered. In the past teachers have been graded and paid according to the attendance at the school over which they preside. It is unlikely that the individual who vwis responsible for this idiotic method of attempting to assess a teaclier’6 value to the State will ever receive tho execration he deserves, but it may safely he asserted that it has very greatly retarded the progress of the community. As an example of how not to do a thing this idea appears to bo particularly ingenious, and its tendency must inevitably bo to encourago a teacher to resort to all manner of unworthy methods to keep up tho attendance list. By pandering to parents, school committeemen, and by roll-stuffing, ho may achieve results impossible to more scrupulous members of the profession. It is true that the proportion of teachers who would descend to suoh despicable actions is small, but the insidious temptation is always there, and those who rise above it as likely as not find that by so doing they have sacrificed both pecuniary advantage and professional prestige. Briefly put, the present system places a premium on conduct which is entirely at variance with tho dignity of a learned and noble profession.

But apart from this unfortunate aspect it is self-evident that a teacher’s efficiency or otherwise can have very little effect on the attendance at an average school. The children are compelled by law to attend, and, except in the rare cases where two schools are in close proximity, the master’s individuality does not affect the position. If a young teacher gets l his first headmaster-ship in a rising township he cun be counted among the lucky ones. Provided hiis work is of a tolerably high standard, lids position is secure for life, and the progress of the district increases iris attendance without greatly increasing his work, whilst his salary rises automatically. On the other bund his fellow-graduate obtains a possibly better position at another school.

But with the progress of settlement the population is constantly shifting, and many of the e arlier settled localities have practically stood still for the last 10 or 15 years. This latter teacher devotes his life enthusiastically and devotedly to his school with conspicuous success so far as the welfare of his scholars is concerned. Having not only a high university degree evidencing notable scholastic attainments, but being also the possessor of that rare and mysterious gift, a magnetic personality, by which he impresses his pupils so tlia.t the very best that is in them is cultivated, ho, nevertheless, finds that year by year his salary is stoidiLy reduced. The reason is, of course, that changing settlement lias transferred a portion of the population elsewhere. It may be said that the teacher can seek another school where general conditions are more promising. The answer is obvious. Really good positions are not plentiful and fresh opportunities aro comparatively infrequent, besides which a teacher who has taken up his life work in a certain community is by the instincts of his profession naturally averse to making a change. It is under these circumstances that

the proposal put forward by Mr. J. Marshall, of Matawhero, at Saturday’s mooting of tho local branch of the N.Z. Educational Institute, which is fully reported in another column, demands very caroful consideration. Mr. Marshall docs not touch upon tho general inadequacy of tho payment made to our teachers, nor to other substantial disabilities undor which they labor, but he lius outlined a plan to supplant tho present system of grading teachers. A careful analysis of the proposal will show that it provides for a recognition of the necessary faotora in a high standard of teaching, ami its introduction would, wo should imagine, bo hailed with delight by tlio majority of teachers throughout the colony. It is hoped to liavo the project discussed at tho annual meeting of the N.Z. Teachers’ Institute, which takes place at Auckland in December, and provided it receives the approval of that body, tho Legislature should lose no time in taking this oasy method of remedying a great evil. AVilion this and some other matters have been readjusted, and wo have made up our minds to pay something moro than a day laborer’s wage for expert services, it is possible that we shall have less difficulty in filling the vacancies that occur from time to timo on the staffs of our public schools.