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Last spring, while perusing about 80 applications for one job teaching English, I expressed sympathy for the young graduates of teachers® colleges, all set to go, wantâ€" ing to be teachers, and scarcely a job in sight. At the time, 1 suggested it was rotten planning: graduatâ€" ing about 10 teachers for each job available. I still think it But the column brought a couple of interesting responses, which I haven‘t managed to get around to answering. Thought I‘d do so now, as we are launched into a new year of teaching and learning. "You have described the situation very well as it applies to the job market in the area of Secondary English; howâ€" ever, it concerns me that young people who are considering a career in teaching might think that there are no opporâ€" tunities in teaching at all. This is far from true. ~ Miss M. A. Buck of Windsor, Ontario, read the column in the Tillsonburg News, and took issue with it, in a ladyâ€" like fashion and the most exquisite handwriting I‘ve seen in years. She writes: _ _ _ _ w c u. "There is a demand for Secondary teachers of Matheâ€" matics, Physics, Girls® Physical Education, Home Economâ€" ics, Art, Music, Business and Secretarial subjects, and Technical areas. There are also excellent opportunities for those who wish to teach in the Public or Separate Eleâ€" mentary schools."" Well, thanks, Miss Buck. This is heartening news. 1 don‘t know about the Maths and Physics. I doubt there‘s a "demand"* for them,. but there‘s always room for a good Art and Music teachers are sitting pretty. But only beâ€" cause they are scarce. Any dope can teach English, as I am frequently reminded, but few young people have the talâ€" ent and training for the arts. Girls® Phys. Ed., yes. Perhaps this is because of attrition. A lot of the younger ones get married and have babies. And it‘s tougher and tougher to put the girls over the hurâ€" dles with each year you put on yourself. i Eliabeth Taylor, I am happy to say, will be able to make ends meet. And she has no need for a reunion with Richard Burton to do so. Liz is a young friend of ours, a contemporâ€" ary of my daughter, and I nursed her through Grade 10, 12 and 13 English. She graduated last June as a Phys. Ed. teacher, and was hired by the first school she applied to. She couldn‘t believe it when I told her how much money she‘d be making â€" about $11,000 a year. "Migawd,. I‘m rich!‘"" Then we started to figure income tax. salary deducâ€" tions for this and that. and cost of living. She won‘t even be wellâ€"toâ€"do. Home Ec.? Again, | agree. We lost a young lady last June because she had to move to the city. She had another job in two weeks. I don‘t know why they‘re scarce. â€" Technical teachers? Yes. There‘s a shortage. And a reaâ€" RUSSIAN CAMERA SPECIAL $10.00 trade in allowance for your old camera when you buy a Zenitâ€"E In spite of severe inflation on photographic equipment prices, you can still buy a quality Russian 35 mm camera Thurs.. Fri. & Sat. Only 7# ellers See all the current models of soviet lenses & cameras on display See why Russian Photo Equipment is still your best buy. Thursday, Friday, Saturday Corner Weber & Lexington Waterloo 885â€"1510 for under $100.00 37988 Including leather case The Popular ZENIT â€" E Still Just son. About 15 years ago, quite a few technicians deserted their trades to enter teaching, not for more money, but for better working aonditions, security â€" many reasons. Over a decade they saw their former trades become more and more affluent, as wages went up and up, until the former electricians, mechanics, draftsmen, now teachers, were making considerably less as teachers than they would be as skilled workers, and with three times the tension. There are very few young technicians coming into teaching now. Who needs it, when he can make $80 a day at his job, and leave it behind when he finishes work? Written at the end of last June, the letter says: "I read your article in the Brooks Bulletin re Tough Time for Teachâ€" ers and am wondering if you are serious ... There is no surâ€" plus of teachers in Western Canada ... we still have 22 vaâ€" cancies at the Elementary level and six at the juniorâ€"senior high level." Twentyâ€"eight vacancies at the end of June. In one school district! From F. W. Reinhold, Superintendent of Schools in the Fort Vermilion School Division, in the Peace River district of Alberta, came another missive. After extensive advertising in Alberta dailies, American newspapers, and listings with Manpower, here‘s the picâ€" ture: ~ Mr. Reinhold enclosed a terse but shocking resume of his school board‘s attempt to staff its schools. T December, 1974; Wrote to 15 firstâ€"semester graduates at University of Lethbridge expressing interest in hiring them. Not one replied to my letters. If you are 65 or older, you are probably entitled to Ontario‘s new Senior Citizens‘ Privilege Card. These are the privileges Ontario offers you. In addition to free OHIP services, the card provides more than 1500 free preâ€" scription drugs to all seniors receiving federal Old Age Security or Ontario Guaranteed Annual Income System (GAINS) cheques. The new Privilege Card offers identiâ€" fication for: * Free admission to all Ontario provincial There‘s a new Ontario Senior Citizens‘ Privilege Card, which has been sent to 750,000 Ontario residents aged 65 and older. It replaces the monthly drug benefit card issued by the Ministry of Health. parks. * Free or reduced admission to many historical, cultural and recreational sites, such as Ontario Place, the Ontario Science Centre, Upper Canada Village and the Royal Botanical Gardens. , WMNQINHf,\/W,OCtOWL‘fl?S-MS ‘Tough time for teachers‘ â€" Government of Ontario William Davis, Premier Feb., 1975: Conducted interviews U. of Calgary and U. of Alberta; 49 applicants interviewed. Three agreed to sign a contract. â€" â€" May, 1975 32 vacancies listed with Manpower. Twore plies. April and May: more advertising. June, 1975: 40 vacancies. Only 54 applications were reâ€" ceived from Canadian teachers. February, 1975 Extensivye advertising and Manpower (received 45 applications). ~ Feb., 1975 Extensive advertising U.S. papers (approxiâ€" mately 400 applications received ). Result: three accepted contracts; 30 accepted contracts elsewhere; seven will not accept a contract at this time; five are not suitable. So. When he wrote, Fort Vermilion School Division was short 28 teachers for September. I take back all my sympathy, for young teachers. One of two things is obvious. â€" Either the Fort Vermilion School Board is one of the worst in the world, which I doubt. _ Otherwise, you‘d be up there in Peace River, getting the experience of your young lives and finding out what makes you tick. ' Or all you young idealists, of both sexes, don‘t really want to teach that much. You want a nice job, in a nice school, not too far from Mom and Dad. in the city or close to it, where you won‘t get your feet wet or your hands dirty, won‘t be too cold or too lonely. If you are 65 or older, and have lived in Ontario for 12 months or more but have not received your card by September 30, write to: Ontario Senior Citizens‘ Privilege Card (Drug Benefit) Queen‘s Park Toronto, Ontario M7A 283 If you are 65 or older, but have lived in Ontario for less than 12 months, you may apply for a temporary Privilege Card. It will entitle you to all privileges except drug benefit. Write to: Ontario Senior Citizens‘ Privilege Card Box 21000 Station "A" Toronto, Ontario MSW 1Y5 Ministry of Community and Social Services Rene Brunelle, Minister e Special senior citizens discounts at many business establishments. e Special senior citizens rates on certain public transit systems. (Check with your ~ local transit system to see if it offers these.) e Participation in community activities and centres for senior citizens. If you are presently receiving your monthly drug benefit card, you should receive your Senior Citizens‘ Privilege Card automatically. Sign it immediately. Without your signature, you cannot use the card.