COUNCIL OF WOMEN

Evening Star, Issue 18335, 24 July 1923, Page 2

COUNCIL OF WOMEN

WOMEN TEACHERS FOR- HIGHER STANDARDS. GUARDIAN SHIP Q U ESTION S. The Dunedin branch of tho National Council of "Women met to consider the remits from Gisborne, Christchurch, Hamilton, and Wellington that will be submitted to the conference in September. Tin- v remits will be passed round to the affiliated societies for their consent, so that tho Dunedin delegates will be fully instructed how to express by their votes the wishes of some 2,000 women in _ tins city. Manv of the proposals deal with educational questions that have been forwarded by the women teachers’ associations, and it is noticeable that all deal with tho caio of the girl scholars, but not one has any reference to salaries. Particular emphasis is laid on the absolute need for a woman teacher to be hi charge of the upper standards where girls arc pupils, so that when girls reach the higher classes in school their education shall not be left entirely in the hands of a head master or male assistant. The same- principle applies to training colleges where the majority of students arc girls. _ A woman vice-principal should bo, appointed to cooperate with the principal and with the elder students. A woman’s intution is needed at this important period of adolescence.

All branches arc unanimous in demanding full civic rights \ hence the demand for the appointment of women J.P.s, womei) jurors (especially in all cases in which women or children arc concerned), and women police. Other remits concerned the State guardianship of illegitimate babies, tho mother's equal guardianship with the father of children born in wedlock, and the need for some better method of ensuring the payment of maintenance by men separated from their wives. The' case of women prisoners received attention. Tho newer forms of reformative treatment in farm colonies was advocated, and State caro for the sub-normal persons who are neglected, often, it must be confessed, through the ignorance of relatives and tho inability to realise that these individuals arc not altogether responsible. Lastly, the principle is advocated that, when legislation dealing with women and children is before the "House, some means be taken to obtain the considered opinion of the recognised women’s organisation upon sucli a Bill. This is done" in England, _ where tho National Council of Women is frequently consulted.