SIR,--Mr. Charles Brand's first article angered me and I accused
him of arrogance. His second article saddens me, but now I find him wrong-headed and Misguided.
As an untrained graduate, I do not share Mr. Brand's low opinion of professional training for teachers, I feel and acknowledge the lack of such training: Mr. Brand denies, and at the same time demonstrates, his need of it.
Because his work is important and demands high qualities, he believes it is superior to the work done by other teachers, and confers upon him a special status, requiring (naturally) higher rates of pay. But What is the certain outcome of the sort of differen- tials he advocates? Secondary modern schools have benefited greatly from the increasing numbers of graduates who have been joining their staffs in recent Years; but pay the graduate in the grammar school a higher rate than graduates in other schools, and how Many graduates will you find choosing to enter Modern schools? I have many friends with good honours degrees who teach in secondary modern schools. The attitude, 'What are you wasting your time in one of those places for?' is all too common; it Would become even more firmly entrenched if Mr. Brand's proposals were implemented.—Yours faith- fully,
ARTHUR BLACKWELL
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