I was teaching Physics at a Private School
in India long ago. The School attached more importance to English, Maths and
Science. Teachers who taught these subjects were paid better. Some teachers
leave at the end of the academic year. So at the beginning of the next year
they would recruit a few new teachers to take their place. One year they could
not get a teacher for the local language. The post had a lower pay scale. A few
days after the School reopened a suitable teacher was found but she was not
willing to accept the lower pay scale. She insisted on being paid a better
salary. Since they had no other option they hired her. She did a good job and
everything went well.
A few months later a man came to the School
looking for work. He was a local language teacher. The School management found
him to be suitable and asked him whether he was willing to work for the lower
pay scale that the post offered. He agreed. They asked him to report for duty a
few days later.
Now they had to remove the lady who
insisted on being paid a better salary. They could not tell her that they found
someone who was willing to do the job at a lower salary. So they told her ‘We
are not happy with your work. We have received many complaints about you.
Students find it difficult to understand you.’ She was made to resign and the
new man took her place.
