In the early 1950’s the NSW Department of Education had an excellent system in place to train and monitor new teachers to a strict standard, plus a guarantee of employment.  

As a condition of receiving a scholarship the prospective teachers agreed to go anywhere in the state. The department had complete control over staffing in all state schools.

The Department of Education once financed all aspects of teacher training and consequently valued each and every young trainee.   

The new teachers were nurtured and mentored by staff, principals and even the area inspectors.

I will never forget a wonderful demonstration lesson given to show me how to inspire good creative writing, in my first years of teaching, by the area inspector.

Nowadays the department has no financial commitment to train or support new teachers.

That has shifted to the young men and women who wish to teach.  

The system has become more and more competitive and young teachers now sink or swim in this non supportive environment.  Some leave.   

How many good, compassionate teachers have been lost to the profession for want of more support?

This modern system of introduction into the schools will continue to fail young teachers unless the department becomes proactive in guiding and supporting them.  

The disgusting waste of keen, qualified teachers is a blemish on the system.

Olive Rodwell, Port Kembla

Reply to the letter by Barry Swan, "Follow the Leader" (Illawarra Mercury, January 28, 2016), apparently, there is not enough money to help the homeless, medical facilities and fix hospitals, tackle the drug problem, the unemployed, the national debt and much more.

Yet, money can be found "instantly" for a new campaign for a republic.

The current Australian constitution has served our country well, and our service men and women have fought and died to preserve the Australian way of life.

The British Monarchy have never intervened in our political system and the Governor General is our Head of State.

The three crosses on the Union Jack represent democracy, rule of law and freedom of speech.

In short, this is the guts of our system and we need to keep these thing that are so precious to us and future generations.

Adrian Devlin, Fairy Meadow

The new case for the GST by Premier Baird (Illawarra Mercury, February 1, 2016) was released as statistics show the increase in equality in NSW leads the nation.

About 10.5 per cent of income goes to the top one per cent  and in Sydney the top one per cent now own 22.9 per cent of all wealth.

The economic model endorsed by Baird resulted in this inequality.

And the core of that policy is the GST which taxes those on lower incomes and favours those on higher incomes.

This is why the electorate is overwhelming against an increase in the GST.

Baird's “new case” promises that his GST will go to health and education.

It's snake oil.

Well why didn't the imposition of the original GST go to health and education?

The increase in the income to the top 1% shows where it went.

An increase in the GST will increase this inequality.

It must be opposed.

Reg Wilding, Wollongong