WOMEN TEACHERS

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 195, 14 May 1940, Page 5

WOMEN TEACHERS

Conference Opens In Wellington ACTIVITY IN BRANCHES Women teachers from all parts of the Dominion attended the opening of the 2Gt.li annual conference of the New Zealand Women .Teachers’ Association in ■Wellington yesterday. The conference will be continued today and tomorrow. Welcoming the delegates, the president, Mrs. A. Foully (Masterton) said that in the j>;rst conferences had been so hurried that a full discussion of vital problems had not been possible. At some possible inconvenience to delegates, the executive had arranged for an extended conference and it was hoped that that experiment would prove of benefit. “Our first aim,” said Mrs. Fouhy, “is to advance the cause of education generally and of girls and infants in particular, by getting the representative opinion of New Zealand women teachers. 1 appeal for your co-operation at this conference in the interests of the welfare of the children under our care.” 'The extended conference this year, - stated the annual report, was an endeavour on the part of the executive to give members and women generally a better opportunity for consideration | of those aspects of education which were of particular interest to women. So far nothing had come of the protests made to the Minister of Education and to the executive of the New Zealand Educational Institute against the inclusion in the new salary scale of the principle of differentiation on a sex basis.

There was evidence of greater activity in branches, many providing programmes dealing with topics covering a wide field of professional and cultural interests. One gratifying feature was the way in which branch committees were catering for the interests of the younger members and encouraging them to take their place on the branch committees and share the work and responsibilities. In all districts branches were actively co-operating with other associations in patriotic work, particularly with such associations as Red Cross committees and the St. John Ambulance.

The conference adopted a resolution placing on record its regret at the death of Mr. Savage, and expressing to his colleagues in 'the Government sympathy at the loss of their leader. Resolutions were also adopted congratulating Mr. Eraser on his appointment as Prime Minister, Mr. Mason as Minister of Education, Dr. Beeby as Director of Education, and Mr. MeMurtrie as assistant-director.

It was also decided that a resolution of appreciation be sent to the retiring Director of Education, Mr. Lambourne. “We have all felt,” said Miss F. JTaylor (Auckland), “that from these gentlemen we have had just and wellconsidered judgments. Mr. Fraser, in

particular, has always been our friend. Even before he was in the Government he was always willing to try and understand the point of view that we were putting.” Discussion of Remits. The afternoon session was devoted to discussion of remits. A remit that there should be at least one woman on the committee which selects and interviews the entrants to the training colleges was carried. A discussion on retarded children was initiated by Miss E. Casley (Auckland), and Miss V. Hayward (Otago), who stressed the necessity for differentiation between types of retardates—mental defectives and temporary retardates as the result of illness or irregular attendance. The work, it was stated, was very difficult and specialized training was urgently required. The following remit was carried: “That where necessary there should lie an opportunity class for retarded children in every school and that special training should be made available for teachers wishing to specialize in any form of retardate class work.” A remit that all classes in the primary schools be reduced to a maximum of 30. was carried. Officers Elected. The election of office-bearers resulted : President:, Miss J. G. Park (Wellington) : vice-presidents, Mrs. A. Fouhy (Masterton), and Miss E. IL I.ea. A.T.C.L. (Auckland); hou. secretary, Miss B. G. Kirk (Wellington) ; bon. treasurer, Miss M. E. Schwebe (Canterbury); executive, Misses E. .Casley (Auckland), J. Sellar (Masterton), E, B. Pay (Marlborough), and H. Eraser (Canterbury).

TOO FEW WOMEN

Representation At N.Z.E.I. Conference TEACHERS’ COMPLAINT The disproportionate representation of 15 women and 61 men at Ibis year’s annual meeting of the New Zealand Educational Institute was commented mi at yesterday’s session of the New Zealand Women Teachers’ Association 'conference. The position, said .Miss J. G. I’urk (Wellington), was serious, It was almost symbolic of the subordinate position of women in New Zealand, and it seemed to be getting into the fibre of Hie being of women teachers. Women were dodging their responsibilities and had been accused in high quarters of veing afraid to tackle responsibilities The grading list was so balanced that women had no fair chance of obtaining responsible positions. ■Miss E. Andrews (New Plymouth) said that the weakness of the women teachers’ position was in the small country brandies, where the general custom was to choose as president someone in an inlJuontial position, usually the headmaster. Some years ago, it was almost an unheard of thing Io have a woman as president of a branch of the institute. "Some of its.” she added, “achieved that giddy height and found it not outside our intellectual capacities.'’ .Miss !•’. .1. Taylor (Auckland) referred to the discouragement of women teachers in the Auckland braiieh when they found that, the number of women representatives was still relatively very small, even after their own efforts to secure increased numbers had resulted in the Auckland district having more women representatives than men.

Miss I. Tankersley (.Masterton) said that apathy on the part of women teachers was responsible for the present position, tine of the contributory ■••• iii.-cs was the lack of early responsibility placed on I lie younger women teadiers.