WIVES AS TEACHERS

Evening Star, Issue 20996, 9 January 1932, Page 16

WIVES AS TEACHERS

DISMISSAL PROPOSAL REJECTION BY FEDERATION After an animated debate at a meeting of the New South Wales Public School Teachers’ Federation recently a proposal from the Wagga in favour of dispensing with the services of married women teachers was rejected. Mr Richards, in moving the resolution, said that the high schools were this year turning out 1,500 students, who were applying to enter the training college, and only 320 could be received. The federation did not believe in any person holding two jobs. In the case of married women, either the class at school or the homo must _ suffer. Every opportunity should be given to students to enter college, and positions should be found for them in the service. This could bo done only by dispensing with the services of married women. Mr Ridley declared the proposal was a deliberate attempt at repudiation and a breach of contract. “If this is liberty in Australia, where we boast of our freedom,” said the speaker, “ then give me Russia.” Dr Currey, who moved the deletion 0 fthc reference to married women, asked why should they single out married women teachers. Why not poleaxe the college staff and bead masters to make room for others? The wife helped in the chemist’s shop, in restaurants, in business houses. Once they abandoned a fixed principle they were on shifting sand. Having regard for British justice, the whole argument was against the proposal. Mr Drummond said he knew of no ground on which the conference could admit the necessity of dismissing anybody. The president said the number of students to bo accepted in the college at the beginning of the year would not be more than 220, and another ninety would be taken in in June or July. The proportion would be sixty men and 1 forty women,'

Miss Woodcock claimed the right for woman to direct her own destiny. The proposal was distinctly of a class nature. Of 80,000 women employed in industry, 16,000 were married. Did they intend to discriminate against married women teachers, or would the principle ho made to apply to all married women in business positions? ; Mr Hancock said he thought that married women should give way to the students coming out of college, othervis the latter could not he employed. Miss Cunningham said the Minister lad declared last > year that he was going to put married women out of the mrvice. Why did he not do it? There vere men who were filling two and three jobs. These should bo dealt with fo provide jobs for ex-students. The motion was an attack on their own members, and could not be supported ty the federation. Dr Currey’s amendment jyas carried.