MORE MALE TEACHERS REQUIRED.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2146, 1 July 1920, Page 2

MORE MALE TEACHERS REQUIRED.

IF something is not done at an early date to make the teaching profession more attractive to young male students, we shall have to he content with “dame” primary schools. The professions and public service provide better openings in life for young' men students possessing l the necessary qualifications for the leaching profession. Hundreds of young men have used the profession as a temporary stepping stone and a convenience' because (he inducements to remain are not sufficiently attractive. This is' a very unsatisfactory stale of affairs, and is not conducive to the educational welfare of the rising generation. Of those engaged in (he leaching profession, a large percentage are uneertitiealod, and, their services are availed of for the reason that there is nothing belter offering. We have nothing against the female teacher. Indeed, they are just as essential to the profession as the male teachers, but there is a too great preponderance of females, which cannot bo in the best interests of school life, ’Take the Foxton school, for instance, in the absence of the headmaster we are left with one male teacher to supervise, where lie should have the assistance of at least two more male assistants. The general tone of any large primary mixed school requires that at least half the staff should he males, but as wo have already said, until the financial aspect is made more attractive our schools will have to be satisfied with a preponderance of female teachers.