WOMEN TEACHERS

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 80, 5 April 1932, Page 13

WOMEN TEACHERS

"EQUALITY OF SACRIFICE" The Education Institute rooms at: "The Evening Post" Buildings, were crowded yesterday afternoon, at a meeting called at short . notice by the Woman Teachers' Association to consider the report of the' recent Economic ■Commission as it affected women. Miss Park (vice-president o£ the N.Z.W.T.A.) • explained that, while the women were not objecting to the ordinary taxes in which all people shared, they did very decidedly object to differentiation which made them subject to "cuts'.'.which were not shared by other people, women, or men. She read from the report an ..extract which provided for the "saving of £75,000" on the salaries^of "female teachers, in the primary schools." :Miss Park..pointed out that while-the/women do the same as the men, it cannot be said that they are less efficient, while the training and time given up out of life, are just the same. Thft point appeared to be that a special, tax was contemplated because women were women. Miss Park urged " that the present economic position of :.wpmen had been gained by the "blood and sweat" (figuratively speaking) of gallant women in the past whose names were reverenced, and . : it would ill become women of the present time to easily give way to the loss of rights gained so slowly and at such infinite pains. Another "cut" proposed^ was, the deprivation of a "special allowance" given to women in the higher positions for special work done. > This would save the great sum of £26001. She felt that the whole thing was "another attack on' the economic independence of women, such as had Ulready been made in the past year or two, and it^ was time women-, woke up to the fact that their whole financial status was being threatened, and not for the first time .by the present Administration. .The average salary of the woman was less-than that of the mai^: even' in. the caae of' sole charge schools, where they "did the same work unassisted. : ■ Miss Park said that the meeting was called to consider two things, the attack oh women, .and the neglect of women. The latter was'embodied-in the fact that so little was being, spent on" the women who were unemployed, of whom teachers were a good proportion/Women teachers alone contributed £143 weekly to. the tax, and the best offer made was £50 weekly to the committees, not any of it to be paid out in sustenance. It was all a most impossible situation for women, and there-was a strong feeling that advantage was ; being taken of the present financial situation to attack the economic status' of women'and.. push.them back at least 50 or 60 years in their'circumstances.; iThere was considerable; discussion, those prejent agreeing-to the conclusion come to by the speaker. It was felt.by some that while-the deprivation 6t £75,000 from one class of women was: a definite. instance of oppression, the matter should be considered on broad lines as affecting the whole status of the women of the Dominion, and that all other professions-and trades should be. considered and given an opportunity ~6f making known their special _ circumstances' >wher« -rbppression was considered to be exhibited. finally a resolution was passed unanimously as follows :r—" That a deputation on national lines: be organised to approach, Ministers of .the' Crown, with : special speakers appointed.'' ■ -It was also decided that a tion from the meeting, should, approach the Rational Council of Women, which met in.the evening. A public meeting was suggested also to take the matters discussed i^to consideration, and; also the raising., pi the. school age by a yearj which, the teachers -unanimously declared to •be a reactionary step against the: interests of both children and parents^ .