ECHOES OF NEWSOM •
his interesting article on the Newsom IcePort (Spectator, August 28), Mr. Mason rightly leachers. Unfortunately, perhaps through lack of
condemns the cursory dismissal of the two cruxes of the modern educational problem--buildings and Space, Mr. Mason, having mentioned teacher supply, then ignores the subject almost entirely, except for a brief reference to the 'turnover of staff.'
• The plain fact is that schools, however mag- nificent, however decorated with modern murals and provided with swimming-pools and gymnasia, are totally useless without a highly qualified staff. Pew first-rate graduates, especially in science and Mathematics, are entering the teaching profession. Any master with experience of the sixth forms Of our grammar schools will confirm the fact that Very few boys who intend to proceed to the uni- versities express any intention of adopting teaching
a career. Together with nursing, it has become one of the most poorly paid and lightly regarded pro- fessions. Rather than making the job attractive, all kinds of expedients have been tried—such as in- ducing young married women with children (with Possibly others on the way) or retired army per- !onnel—to enter the service. Recently, a large city *0. the north of England has been reduced to run- ning a series of large advertisements in Irish papers for 'teachers.' Presumably, the authorities there are sei desperate that they would be delighted to find anybody reasonably capable of teaching something— no matter what.
Let us put first things first. The headmaster under 'vnorn I once had the privilege. of serving used to
say: 'Give me four walls and a roof that will keep out the rain and I will produce boys who will gain open scholarships to the universities.' And he did.
I suggest, sir, that the remedy is extremely simple. If we want a teaching service, the authorities must compete in the open market for the personnel to staff that service, otherwise the vicious downward spiral in education which is already in operation will become even more vicious.
Magherafelt, Co. Londonderry
JOHN SCOFIELD
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