WOMEN TEACHERS

Evening Star, Issue 18716, 19 August 1924, Page 7

WOMEN TEACHERS

INSPECTORATE APPOINTMENT PROMISED. MINISTER AGAINST HIS ADVISERS. [Pee United Peess Association.] AUCKLAND, August 18. The Minister of Education (tho Hon. C. J. Parr) expressed himself strongly in favor of the appointment of women inspectors in schools when he was approached by a 'deputation from the New Zealand Women Teachers’ Association, urging, inter alia, that in view of the large number of girls and women teachers the time had arrived for the appointment of women to the inspectorate and to administrative positions in the Education Department. In reply, the Minister said his advisers ■were not/in favor of the proposal—first, because it would be unfair to expect women to “’rough it” in backblock districts, and, secondly, because women did not possess the qualifications men possessed by reason of the latter’s experience as head masters. He mentioned that two women inspectors had been appointed a year or so ago for examining work in the infants’ department. “I want to say, however, that I have no sympathy whatever with the department’s point of view,” added Mr Parr. “■ I consider the departmental point of view regarding women inspectors is too conservative. There is no reason why women should not be appointed to districts in which women could got about as easily as men. I propose to lay down as an instruction to tho Public Service Commissioner and the Director of Education that tho time has arrived when women inspectors should bo appointed, and that the next appointment made should be that of a woman. This is a matter of policy which the Minister controls.” Mr Parr stated further that he was fully in sympathy with the association in its endeavor to give the control of lower grade schools in particular cases to women. He saw no reason why women should not be head mistresses of schools containing from thirty-five to eighty pupils. Such appointments, however, were in the hands of education boards, which sooner or later would probably fall into line with his view.