Education is Drifting.

Levin Daily Chronicle, 27 December 1917, Page 4

Education is Drifting.

STRONG REMARKS AT BOARD'S MEETING. "The policy of the Government during tlie war is to let education drift. Wc'liavo to prepare for continued war, however, and the best way to prepare for it is to place education in a strong position and prevent this drifting." — So stated Mr R. MeCallum at the last meeting of the Wellington Education Board. The remark was made during a discussion which arose on a resolution received from a Petone committee regarding the inadequate and miserable remuneration of pupil-teachers and probationers. The Petone committee asked that representations be made to the department and the Minister in the direction of having the present remuneiation vbrought up to a living wage. Mr E. P. Rishwortli moved that the resolutions be forwarded to the Minister. The schools were not getting tho class of teachers they should—this was only natural in view of the present inadequate pay. By the present policy the department was steadily losing good tcachcrs., Ho knew of five or six pupil teachers who were now working side by side in a bank receiving £120 a year upwards. This was much more than they would receive if they were still, teaching. [ Mr T. Forsyth said that no union in New Zealand would tolerate the conditions under which teachers were now working. Surely the profession of teaching children was of the hightest character. Mr R. A. Wright said the Government was the real culprit in this matter. While it was paying enormous wages to employees in other departments it was giving miserable wages to teachcrs. In military circles this | was a scandal. It meant that the i schools were being deprived of good teachers. The Government's policy was really having a disastrous effect on the community. Of course, there was a tremendous shortage "of labour, and this too, was having an effect on tho teaching profession. Mr 11. Ivebbell moved that the assistance of other boards be obtained on this question. - Mr Kishworth agreed to this addition to 'his resolution, and also suggested that it bo impressed on the Government to go into this matter seriously and iiot deal with it in, the usual way. (Laughter.) Mr MeCallum said he did not think it- any use approaching the department The Board should attack the Govern- . inent on the matter and get Mr Massey I and Sir Joseph Ward to understand its opinion. Tho resolution was carried.