“EQUAL WORK—UNEQUAL PAY”

Evening Star, Issue 18729, 3 September 1924, Page 5

“EQUAL WORK—UNEQUAL PAY”

MEN AND WOMEN TEACHERS. PROTEST AGAINST .DIFFERENTIATION; Remits bearing in the direction of pro* testing against' differentiation in the salaries paid to men and women teachers for services of equal value to tho State were considered at this morning’s session of the conference of tho National Council of Women. There were two remits forward, one from Wellington, and the other from Auckland.

Miss Magill (Wellington), in moving in the direction indicated in the remits, said she merely desired to place certain facts before the meeting. The mover claimed that women teachers had the same training, the same qualifications, the same work, and the same results as men teachers. The present position was one of equal work for unequal pay. Miss Magill said that teaching was a profession for which women were eminently well equipped. Openings for women were, however, widening, and though at present many of the best women were to be found in the teaching profession, that could Bot be maintained if they were reckoned as “ Paddies, the next best things.” In submitting further weighty arguments, the speaker said that the average salaries of men and women differed by £lo2—under a scheme without differentiation as a basis. The speaker concluded by quoting Dr Adams, the eminent educationist, who had stated in an address in Wellington that women might bo called the educational sex, for a woman had the tendencies which made the ideal teacher. Mrs Downing (Otago) seconded. Miss Sherriff (Otago) said the war demonstrated that women could teach the higher standards. At the present time there were a number of women teachers in Dunedin who were doing the same work as senior men teachers. It was not correct to say that women teachers did not take an interest in sports. Women in Otago were not allowed to take a headmastership in a Grade 3 school. Miss Newbegin (Auckland) said that men received promotion much easier than women could. What was the use of the grading when men of inferior efficiency could supersede far more efficient women teachers f

Miss Jamieson (Christchurch) supported the proposal. The remit was unanimously carried.