Teachers’ inequality

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33478, 8 March 1974, Page 4

Teachers’ inequality

(N.Z. Press Association)

WELLINGTON, March 7.

Four areas of discrimination against women within the education system were listed for the Parliamentary Select Committee on Discrimination Against Women in New Zealand.

In a submission, the Postprimary teachers association said the instances of discrimination involved the denial of equal rights for women to removal expenses, leave with . pay, married salary and benefits on a deceased contributor's superannuation.

The association commented, “The continued existence of these features is out of keeping with the present social outlook in this country, and is contrary to many stated beliefs and common assumptions.” PRODUCT OF PAST The Association believed that most discrimination between the sexes was a prod, uct of historical conditioning and economic necessity reinforced by wars, depressions and unemployment. “It is a reflection of an era when families clung closely together based upon one man’s wage, and when each member was aware of his or her place and responsibilities within the family, and possibly in the world at large. “Times, however, change and security for one generation can become an irritation or a burden for the next.”

Referring to the denial of removal expenses for married women teachers, the association said thi? was an effective bar to their promotion.

“As current practice stands, therefore, approximately one-third of the teaching profession. is beina denied equal rights to removal expenses on the

grounds of their sex and marital status. .

“This denial seriously restricts their career opportunities, and forms a discrimination supported by administrative decision (,f dubious validity.” On the question of leave with pay, the association said that in the general activities of teaching no discrimination existed, but in certain areas of extracurricular involvement it did arise.

These included travel with sports teams, the holding of certain travelling scholarships and fellowships and leave for cultural activities.

The association pointed out that the teaching profession was one of the few services where married salary was payable. It amounted to $l4O, and was payable to married men whose wives were earning through employment less

than $2OO. It was also available to certain women teachers, who had to prove they were fully maintaining a child or were either widowed or not receiving payment under a maintenance order. “As with removal ex-, pepses, women experience considerable difficulty in obtaining payment and do so again only if their circumstances have been weighed and found wanting. “The association has long considered the payment of married salary a relic of a more impoverished age, and continues to press for its incorporation into the basic salary of all teachers.” On superannuation, the association said the widow of a deceased male contributor received benefits as of right. However, the widower of a deceased female contributor was denied this right unless he was totally or partially dependent on her. “VEILED ASSUMPTION’’ “This element of discrimination can, of course, be seen as being against either man or women depending upon one’s viewpoint. “In relation to women, though, it highlights a Veiled assumption, inherent in much of our legislation, that the married woman has no great rights or responsibilities outside of her husband other than those of immediate consequence to herself."

The association called for the Superannuation Act to be amended to establish equal rights.