TEACHERS’ SALARIES

Evening Star, Issue 19025, 21 August 1925, Page 4

TEACHERS’ SALARIES

SEX DIFFERENTIATION DISCUSSION BY INSTITUTE [Sckcial to the ‘Star.’] WELLINGTON, August 20. A question of perennial concern to teachers, and one on which there is a considerable difference of opinion within tho ranks of tho profession, came up for discussion at to-day’s meeting of tho New Zealand Educational Institute as the result of the following remit:— “That plank 8 of the institute platform be deleted, and that, with regard to any scheme of salaries for teachers, the basic principle he that of differentiation for men and women.” —Otago. Mr A. C. Blake (Wellington) said that tho question of equal pay for equal work came into prominence during the war period. Tho application of the principle would Result in women being turned out of employment where they competed with men. During tho war Miss Blakewell White, director of the women’s service for munitions, stated in a report that whenever the salaries of tho sexes approximated women were driven from the field, for tho reason that the women’s output was not as great as that of the men. Miss Rathbone, writing in the ‘ Women’s Cause,’ said that women’s wages were Ijased on individual subsistence, and men’s on their own and a- family’s subsistence. Even whore a man was unmarried, still it was to be expected that ho would marry. If this Hat rate of pay were adopted it would moan that seveneighths of the teachers would be overpaid in order to benefit one-eighth. He went on to point out that there wore not sufficient funds to give an all-round increase such as a levelling uq> of women’s salaries would necessitate. Tho result would be that men's salaries would have to bo reduced. Another very important point was that the average young man entering the teaching profession looked forward to making it his life work. Statistics showed that on the other side 50 per cent, of women teachers left tho service of the State within two years. Mr N. H. S. Law (Auckland) protested against the limiting of the education grant, and hold that the importance of education to the country required that a sufficient sum should bo set aside to cover reasonable expenses. He was wholeheartedly in favor of equal pay for equal work, and considered that the difficulty of tho married man might be got over by giving an allowance to married men based on their responsibilities. Instead of concentrating on the small subject of differentiation, lie considered that tho institute should raise its eyes from the ground and strike boldly for adequate recognition of tho status of the teacher, which would entail sufficient pay. Mr G. E. Griffiths (Southland) supported the previous speaker. Where women were giving adequate service they should receive a salary commensurate with that position. What was required was teachers; it did not matter whether they wore men or women. Ho was confident that if adequate salaries were offered both men and women would offer for positions. Ho went on to criticise the fact that different pay was given for different brandies of tho service. For instance, the teacherwho taught the rudiments of Latin in a secondary school received a greater salary than tho one who taugat the rudiments of arithmetic in an elementary school. He suggested rather that teachers should bo graded according to their ability to impart education, not merely to teach a subject, and salaries should be graded on that ability. Mr W. W. Hill (Auckland) suggested that a basic wage might bo fixed, with special allowances for service and domestic responsibilities j that the remit be deferred to next meeting of the institute; and that in the meantime tho department ho communicated with as to whether it was willing to co-operate in the direction suggested. Miss Edward (Pahiatua), in supporting the amended remit, stated that, tiie department had drawn up tho present system of salaries, incorporating differentiation, which did not satisly the teachers. The teachers had drawn up a scale of salaries which tho department refused to adopt. It appeared to her that this was an honest attempt to get the two parties together for the purpose of effecting a solution. Alisa Carnahan (Auckland) said that women were fighting for a principle in asking for equal pay for equal work. It was a principle in which tho women teachers of the country were vitally interested, and she protested that the consideration of cost should not be allowed to intrude unduly. Tho point of view of the Eduction Department was put before the Institute by the Director of Education (Mr J. Caughley). He went deeply into statistical detail with technical references. Ho explainer! the reduction in the number of grades of assistants from seven to three. Ho asked where was the money to come from to equalise tho salaries of female and male assistants under now grade 3. The money would have to be taken from tho salaries of male teachers. Women were getting the salary they, got before. Could the department, with tho same amount of money, increase tho salaries of female assistants without decreasing the salaries of male assistants? The department had not introduced a new policy or a now principle; it simply preserved the status quo. They had never got a practical suggestion as to what could bo done with the amount of money at the department’s disposal. There had been no reflection on women teachers, for women teachers occupied the best-paid women’s positions in New Zealand. This could nob bo said by a long way of the male teacher. The matter was referred to a Recess Committee to report to the executive after consultation with the branches.