A PLEA FOR JUSTICE GRIEVANCES OF WOMEN TEACHERS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 74, 24 September 1914, Page 3

A PLEA FOR JUSTICE GRIEVANCES OF WOMEN TEACHERS

CIRCULAR TO MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT. Women teachers, who have been com- ] paratively silent sufferers in tho past, j have decided to act vigorously for jus- j tice. They have carefully studied the Education Bill, and they have been sorely disappointed to find that women teachers have not received due recognition of their value to the community. Therefore the following circular has been sent to members of Parliament:— "The Wellington Association of Women Teachers, while recognising that many wise administrative reforms have been embodied in the new Education Bill, still protests against the position of the majority of women teachers under the proposed conditions. " About 78 per cent, of women teachers in the Dominion are in Grades I. and 11. Many of the teachers who were already in these grades when the Bill was introduced do not benefit at all. "Many teachers in Grade 11., comprising a large number of senior women teachers, who have had from twelve to twenty-five years' experience, have not benefited either under the amending Act of 1913 or the Bill of 1914. IN GRADE I. SALARY £100-£l2O. "It is true that the salary of this grade was advanced in some cases last year from £90 to £105. It is true, too, as Mr. Hogben has stated, that only 257 teachers are in this grade under the Bill. As this is the case, the Bill leaves out of account a section of teachei'3 — those assistant teachers, capable, certificated, and of seven to twelve years' experience, who for some time past have been substituted for two pupil teachers in our schools. Under this showing these teachers, on "exactly the same level as other teachers in the grade, are not even graded. As this practice of substituting one assistant for two pupil, teachers has been in vogue for some time past, many teachers suffer an injustice. Moreover, under this arrangement the new teachers appointed fresh from the training colleges are placed on the same level as those who have been teaching from seven to thirteen years. Excluding Grade I. teachers, however, there are still 600 teachers who do not benefit at all. IN GRADE 11., SALARY £120-£I4O. " The maximum was raised from £135 to £140 by last year's Amending Act ; £5 increase on such a, salary does not satisfy capable and experienced teachers. Many teachers, already in this 'grade when the Bill was introduced, received no promotion. "In it are a large number of senior women teachers, with twelve to twentyfive years' experience, as returns from educations boards can show. As a rule these have had long Country and town experience. Some, previously in the country, have accepted these positions in town schools as the only promotion they could get from Grade I. Others, finding the prospects of promotion remote - either in town or country, have come to town for the same salaries as they s ha-ve been getting in the country. At present very few positions over £140 are occupied by women teachers. About 22 per cent, are getting more than that. Excluding head teachers, only 2.3 per cent, can get a salary of £230. " Lastly, under ,the . proposed,.,conditions, those ' senior ' teachers who' have, had no increase' at all are placed on the same -footing as those whom the Bill promotes from Grade I. to Grade 11. " The remedy that we suggest is that the maximum of Grade 11. (£140) should be raised to £180, thus eliminating Grade 111., and that teachers of twelve years' experience and over should be placed at the maximum in Grade 11. " In making this request for our senior women teachers of over twelve years' experience, in Grade 11., we are not asking for equal pay for equal work. It is a reasonable contention that every capable and experienced woman teacher who has proved her worth should have an assured prospect of £180 within fifteen years. A typist in a Government Department can get £160 in eight years, and this without the preparation or the knocking about from pillar to post in lonely Country places required of women teachers. ' " We would respectfully point out that to do justice to the majority of women teachers it is necessary to make Grade 11. a fairly good one since, after men are provided for, comparatively few positions out of this grade can be occupied by women, as the figures quoted above prove." NEVER HESITATES TO RECOMMEND THEM. "My daughter suffered with indigestion aaid tried many medicines without getting relief," writes Mrs. E. J. Osborne, Spensley-street, Clifton Hill, Vie. "Having Chamberlain's Tablets in stock, I advised her to try them, which sho did, getting immediate relief. I take Chamberlain's Tablets myself, and find they are the best medicine of their kind that it is possible to get," That sterling specific for coughs, colds, and sore throats — "Nazol" — can be bought only as "Nazol." Ask for it by name. That is important. Nothing like "Nazol" for_ relieving coughs, colds, sore throats, and influenza, just as there's nothing like the sun for making daylight. Inhaled or taken on sugar, "Nazol" will not fail. Sixty doses Is 6d'.— Advt. Woods' Great Peppermint Cure, for Coughs and Colds, never fails, 1b 64. —Advt.