THE PUPIL-TEACHING PROFESSION.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2046, 15 May 1890, Page 3

THE PUPIL-TEACHING PROFESSION.

A writer in a recent issue of the Southland Times calls attention to a state of things in the educational world that is not generally knows, but which we believe to be aotual fact—viz., the overorowding of the ranks of pupil-teaohers. "It is time," he writes " that either the Kduoation Board or else the Educational Institute, or the two conjointly, opened up investigations to answer the all-impoitant « What beoomes of our passed pupil-tesohers?' YouDg man and young women are being induced into the work of pupil-teaohers, aa men follow an ignis fotuus. There is not sufficient expansion of our system to get them placed after passing their final examination, and they must ba oast adrift to get married (if women), to enter some other profession (if men), or they must become probationer waiting on till some benevolently-inolined school committee gives them a position, Your correspondents both betray a weakness in favour of encouraging the system, possibly they both have something to gain by the appointment or training of pupil-teachers ; but, I say mo3t emphatically, it is time, high time, that that the training of teaohers in this little community was suspended, if not discontinued. It costs public money to begin wi h, and it launohes young people half way into a profession whioh is already too full. The bribe of payment for training a pupilteacher buys over many a head-mester who in his heart knows that his pupil at the expiration of the term of training will probably have to turn to some other profession or branch of the public servioe."