N.Z.E.L bides time on women’s officer

Press, 16 May 1985, Page 27

N.Z.E.L bides time on women’s officer

PA Wellington The New Zealand Educational Institute has rejected the appointment of an officer for women but will consider the feasibility of such a job. A move by a candidate for the institute’s presidency, Ms Reihana MacDonald, to forget the feasibility and appoint a women’s officer, has been defeated at the annual conference. Ms MacDonald said the Government had set up a Ministry of Women’s Affairs and the Post-Primary Teachers’ Association was appointing an officer in the third terni. Speaking against the appointment amendment, Ms Julia Parfitt, (North Shore) said it was the job of women to be accepted on “our own merits as people”. Legal barriers to promotion had been removed. Mr John Gould, (Manawatu) said he would be disappointed if the institute became fragmented. If

women got a special officer, other groups should have one, too.

The recommendation came in a report on the Decade for Women 19751985.

Presenting part of the report, an N.Z.E.I. executive member, Mr Roger Caley of (Hastings), said there had been some positive changes but they were slow.

The number of women deputy principals in 1984 was 30.8 per cent, compared with 12.2 per cent in 1979. But this was the only significant increase. The number of women senior teachers was 53.1 per cent in 1979 and 57.8 per cent in 1984. The percentage of women principals was 4.7 per cent in 1979 and 13.7 per cent in 1984.

Mr Caley said the statistics a decrease in the number of jobs advertised, but more women applying. The number of women appointed, had declined, but the number of men remained stable. The Minister of Women’s Affairs, Mrs Hercus, urged the institute to appoint an officer for women. Mrs Hercus referred to the institute’s recommendation that it explore the feasibility of appointing such an officer.

“It has been my experience that while these needs can be addressed within the general structure of an organisation, the most effective action comes when they are specifically addressed by an officer whose job is to do just that,” she said.