STATE SCHOOL TEACHERS. Private Coaching.

Free Lance, Volume I, Issue 23, 8 December 1900, Page 6

STATE SCHOOL TEACHERS. Private Coaching.

THE question whether our State school-teachers should be allowed to undertake private coaching was introduced to the notice of the Wellington Education Board last week. From the remarks of the Bey. J. D. Thompson, who appeared before the Board as a member of a deputation from Petone, it appears that it is a common practice with teachers to take payment from parents for privately preparing pupils for different examinations. If that is so, the principle is absolutely indefensible. • « * Were it sanctioned, it would open wide the door for all sorts of curious innovations. Just as well might the Solicitor-General, for instance, out of office hours receive clients and charge private fees for legal advice or conveyancing. The State dairy and poultry experts could find remunerative employment for their spare time, and largely add to their emoluments by undertaking work that their official positions would readily bring to them. And policemen, as soon as their spell of duty was over, might hasten to don mufti and bustle around to compete for any kind of payable employment that was to their liking. • * • In the ease of private coaching by teachers, the objection was made at the Board that the practice was unfair to children of parents who were poor. But that is altogether begging the question. • The - State* pays^ men and women, whether well or ill is not the point, to do certain work within certain hours. To accomplish that work with credit to themselves and advantage to those placed under them, the undivided attention of the workers is necessary. There is no more wearing, straining work than teaching, and the conscientious instructor has plenty to do in keeping himself abreast of the go-a-head methods of the day to occupy sufficient of his spare hours without robbing his pupils and employers by devoting the time meant for recuperation to further wear and tear of the brain and energy. » • # If the teachers are unable to live without this extra drudgery the more shame to the State. As a matter of fact, the vast rank and file of the teaching army of the colony are wretchedly underpaid. But it appears the private coaching that is complained of is chiefly carried on by the very teachers who are in receipt of comparatively comfortable salaries. That makes the matter yet worse. • # • Again, how are private coaches to live if the teachers subsidised by the State, who are in touch with the pupils, are allowed, with their superior advantages, to drive them out of the field ? It is a question of live and let live. There is, we somehow suspect, a law (written or unwritten) in connection with the Wellington Board that renders it necessary for a teacher of theirs to get permission before undertaking this extra private work. If so, the law is conveniently elastic, for dozens of teachers drive their coach and six through it without a scratch. This certainly ought not to be.