"ONE FAMILY, ONE JOB."

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 72, 26 March 1931, Page 3

"ONE FAMILY, ONE JOB."

MARRIED WOMEN TEACHERS. OPPOSITION TO EMPLOYMENT. STAND BY SCHOOL COMMITTEES. Opposition to the employment of married women teachers, except in necessitous cases, was voiced at last evening's meeting of the Primary School Committees' Association. The question was revived for discussion by the executive in view of the prominence recently given it by other organisations interested in education. "I think we should deal with this question as far as we are able," said Mr. A. Roberts. "There are flagrant cases of both husband and wife working in our city schools. In such cases, the wife should resign and give her place to someone seeking a position. There are cases, of course, where allowances should be made, such as the employment of widows." Sir. Parker, of Devonport, considered that steps should be taken to prevent married women teachers from working. Where women tried to give attention to their homes and to the school at the . same time the education of the children suffered. The whole question, however, was bound up by the grading system, which necessitated the appointment of the highest graded applicants to positions. The president, Mr. S. E. Chappell, said there was a good deal to be said on both sides, but possibly the arguments against the employment of married women were stronger now than ever because of the economic conditions prevailing in the Dominion. "The time has come when, where two salaries are going into one home, the person earning the lesser salary should resign," declared Mr. A. P. Neil. A number of our young people are being kept out of work because of the obvious greed of some married couples. It would be impossible to carry on the education of the children successfully unless young teachers were given employment, and an opportunity to acquire training. It was resolved that the association should do its utmost to develop the principle of "one family, one job" in the case of man and wife. Mr. Chappell explained,that the resolution had the support of the Education Board, although the latter had its hands tied by regulations. It was just a question whether steps should be taken _to have the latter amended to deal with the problem.