THOSE INSPECTORATES

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 67, 16 September 1922, Page 16

THOSE INSPECTORATES

WHAT WOMEN THINK.

(Contributed.)

i That outstanding merit should be honoured and . encouraged is surely acknowledged generally. Merit in the v world of teaching tjie young isjgradually being recognised as of the first importance, for what the boys and girls of today do and think in the liext 50 years is practically going to uphold op close down civilisation in the world. 1 So the task of the men and women teachers is one of world-wide importance/and of absolutely equal importance so far as the sexes are concerned. The world depends equally on its men and its women, and rewards of N merit, in each case should'not be considered on a .sex basis, as has been done in the past. Recently the question was put forward in the House of Representatives as' to the appointment, 'of 'women to the inspectorate. The reply was that, "owing to the arduous and difficult journeys thati have to be made by inspectors of schools in visiting (schools in remote parts of tKe country, the Department advises that it is quite impossible for women to undertake the full' duties of inspectors." Thus the Minister'of Education. The fact is ignored that women teachers in great numbers are found in tjie farthest oft' and most: uncomfortable situations in the -backblocks ,pf New ■Zealand, whore they not only have to travel to get there, but are obliged to stay—receiving small salaries because the numbers are small.' It has been said.that the ybung men simply will not talte these positions. [ Thie desperately uncomfortable circumstances of these women backblock teachers have" been brought ..under, notice of the authorities time after time, but "no tender Consideration "for I 'arduous and difficult journeys" has been shown, nor, what is more needed, for the lack of comforts; and in some' cases,; almost of the decencies of life. The well-known story told by ■Lewis Carrcll, of "The \Walms and th& Carpenter" comes to mind in this connection. ■■:■■■''"..■■' ' ...

Two women supervisors were appointed '.some ■•'■tiriie ago at salaries of £400 each. "All" they had to do was to supervise the work of all the girls and all the, infants in New 'Zealand. These positions are now vacant. There are fifty men -on the inspectorate to carry out the rest of .the work. •■ ■ ■

',Again, in the junior high schools 4 ,50 far ■ established, the experience rind qualifications £ of women are 'at a discount, for the first woman in the school counts as only fifth on the staff. That involves a. danger that the upper-form, girls in these schools will be cut off from much contact with ■" a ■woman teacher. For various good'reasons this i 3 regrettable. In private schools for girls, women teachers are insisted upon all the -way through the course of education. Girls at certain, stages in their life need the "understandingness" of the woman teacher,. who can cope with various difficulties successfully, and, is well calculated to, be companion and friend in a way that could never be arrived at by a.'male teacher. . Comparing England and New Zealand, the latter is at a sad and serious disadvantage. In England, women head the girls' departments in both the primary and in the secondary gchools. There are women inspectors all over the country. According to the English Educational estimates about £29,000 was spent in salaries of women inspectors, some getting remuneration ranging from £900 to £1000 per annum. .'■■■■

In New Zealand there are eighteen women principals of secondary girls,' schools, while in the primary schools there is the position of infant mistress. These are the- "bright" prospects of the ambitious, clever New Zealand girls and women who study earnestly and qualify well for good positions in the most important and necessary work the world provides!

; Naturally women teachers from secondary schools in' England will not exchange with New Zealand secondary teachers, for conditions are hard and pay small. Secondary teachers who visit England either come back reluctantly or stay away if possible. Within recent years there has been a little «xodus of women secondary teachers to England, where there is a "fair field and more oven favour." New Zealand needs the beat brains of men and women alike, and it is lamentable to find that the brain-power of tho latter is being belittled arid wasted., This country cannot, hope to "lead the world" except backwards, unless its policy regarding women citizens generally, and women teachers in particular, is brought somewhere nearly in touch with the privileges and advantages which are offered in other parts of the world. A very old poem runs 'as follows :— ■' . "The world is like a narrow raft Afloat upon a hungry sea,

Where each one eager for a place

Doth thrust the .other in the sea." , This is- a sad . description; it is to be hoped that the ones to be thruat off the raft of opportunity are not always to he the sisters and daughters of New Zealand men. ; .