Dearth of Teachers.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7913, 31 August 1905, Page 2

Dearth of Teachers.

The selection committee of the Taranaki Education Board expressed' regret at the constant dwindling in the Bumber of applicants for vacancies under the Board, and at Wednesday's meeting altachul a report by the Inspectors on the subject. Messrs Spencer and Ballantyne set out thai increased staffing lias wjsorbed all the surplus teachers available 'ljefore tlic Public School Teachers' Salaries Act, 1901" came into fc.ric. The same Act cut down the miniotr of pupil teachers, The number passing through each year hardly provided for the number of female teachers, Who, in the ordinary course, leave tic serviccj There is also a great difficulty, in getting good applicants for tho positions ol pupil teachers, though the salaries have been increased, and a touch larger number of pupils are receiving secondary education. Whether these secondary pupils will in time meet the demand for teachers remains to be seen. In this district it may be that the increased prosperity has tended to check the supply of pupil teachers. With regard to the supply of qualified teachers it is evident that inducement offered to males to enter the sefviee is not sufficient. The salaries of teachers have not increased in Ihc same ratio as have salaries in other departments and in private business and commercial enterprises, The scarcity of male teachers is felt very much when second assistants are required for large schools. The duties of these are. onerous and responsible, ant! the salary received is not coinmensurate with the work done, nor with the length of service, In fact, an ex-pupil taking charge of a small country school is relatively paif) more highly than is a more experienced and more skilful assistant. The former, living in the country lias a house allowance or a free house, and with respect to the cost of living, has a decided advantage, whereas the latter, living in town where rents arc comparatively hierh* has no free house, and is under conditions necessitating a higher cost ™ ! fe \ 0n thc other ''and, in country places positions are often difficult to fill, owing to suitable acAcai'n in t°h I)eing unobtainable. Again, in the absence of a sum>ia:. nothlne f ypUng men llavin S nothing tp Joqk forward to, are loath tfl enter the service, or having entc * pi, become disheartened and in cm,,o, * te »' «» i"?ih« TO &r»a ,t i,r3 bo,l , r '