In America, teacher's tenure of office is very short. Each year there are many changes in the personnel of teachers throughout the country. Here we have the extreme of uncertainty, while in Norway they go to the limits of certainty in teaching positions. Both these extremes are unfortunate. Could a golden mean be reached which would include proper incentives to and recognition of continuous self-improvement and a reasonable sense of security in permanent occupation, the profession would call into its ranks a large and more efficient body of men and women, and the schools would make greater and more substantial progress. In order to illustrate the permanency of positions in Norway Table VI has been arranged.
Table indicating Retirement from Teaching Staff and Reasons for Retirement.
Year | 1890 1895 1900 1905 Sex | Male Female| Male Female |Male Female| Male Female ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Total number of | | | | positions | 3941 1187| 4402 2116| 4670 2613| 4865 2885 Total number leaving | 117 17| 88 22| 106 89| 110 90 Vacated after a period | | | | of service from | | | | 1 to 10 years | 19 11| 21 13| 24 65| 20 53 10 to 20 years | 26 4| 10 7| 10 13| 19 19 20 to 30 years | 38 1| 18 | 16 5| 13 10 Over 30 years | 34 1| 39 2| 56 6| 58 8 Reasons for leaving | | | | Death | 30 1| 24 2| 30 6| 32 11 Retirement on pension| 39 3| 48 3| 53 21| 59 22 Change in position | 9 | | 3 2| 4 4 Marriage | 9| 11| 47| 48 Various others | 39 4| 16 6| 20 13| 15 5
It is immediately apparent that the changes in the body of teachers are rare. It is also evident that nearly all who leave the profession do so on legitimate grounds. A few changes result from transfers in position, a large per cent of withdrawals are retirements after extended periods of service, and many vacancies are due to death. Fifty per cent or more of the women who retire do so on account of marrying, a few die at their posts, and many retire on pensions. Very few of the women teachers retire to enter other lines of work. While the table does not indicate how much longer than thirty years some teachers remain in the service, it may be added here that examples are not rare where individuals continue teaching for more than half a century. In most cases teachers occupy the same position throughout their teaching experience.