ELEMENTARY-SCHOOL TEACHING AS A PROFESSION.
[To TEE EDITOR OP THE " SPECTATOR."] Sut,—Seeing that elementary-school teaching is probably the only profession now open to women in which the demand is greater than the supply, it will be a pity if aspirants are dis- nouragedly the correspondence in your columns. The real -barrier to the entrance of women educated at secondary schools has been ignorance of the opportunities and advan- tages of the-work, combined with a vague impression of social degradation, due generally to a want of opportunity of -akquaintance with teachers and schools. For some five years past an Association formed under the presidency of the late
Ardhbishop of Canterbury, and continued under that of the latis Sir Joshua Fitch, has worked quietly, but not unsuccess- fully, to remove this drawback. At a meeting of this Society held last year Sir Charles Elliott said—and one at least of your correspondents could hardly be better answered :-
r -"The payment is exceedingly good compared with secondary schools In very many cases under the London Board a young woman who has passed the certificate examination begins at *80 or £85 a year, and goes up automatically to .2140. If she becomesa head-teacher, the salary begins at £140, and rises to .4.300 a year. Therefore, pecuniarily, the profession is a very desirable one."
Further :— -
"A great many women taking up this line are animated by a missionary spirit. I should also like to bear my testimony as to licw, strongly this spirit exists among our tAaehers of all classes ; a great many have a longing to do good to the poorer classes,—a most admirable spirit."
That examinations are over-numerous and prospects un- certain, or that Nonconformists are at a discount, are purely fallacious statements. Outside examinations are liberally recognised by the Board of Education, and every facility offered for passing its own tests while actually employed and Paid. Salaries and the standard of comfort and convenience in-school are rising steadily, and in Council-provided schools the opportunity of the Nonconformist teacher, ample already, will-certainly not decrease. If educated women want, as they say they do, work at once honourable, a] truistic, and sufficiently
paid, it should surely only be necessary to mention the short:age in a profession which offers a reasonable emolument, leisure for recreation and self-culture, with a priceless oppor- tunity of influence for good over our young citizens in the making. May I add that Miss Judith Merivale, University Hall, Bangor, as honorary secretary of the Association already mentioned, will gladly correspond with any possible
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