EDUCATIONAL

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 19 August 1924, Page 5

EDUCATIONAL

PRIMARY SCHOOLS. WOMEN INSPECTORS. FAVOURED BY MINISTER. (BY TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION.) \ . AUCKLAND, Aug. 18. The Minister for Education (the .Hon. C. J. Parr) to-day expressed himself strongly in favour of the appointment of women inspectors in schools. He was approached by a deputation from the New Zealand Women Teachers’ Association, urging inter alia, that in view of the large nuipber of girls and women teachers the time had arrived for the i appointment of women to the inspectorate and to administrative positions in the Lducation Department. In reply the Minister said his advisers were not in favour of the proposal, firstly, because it would be untair to expect women to “rough it” in the backblock districts, and, secondly because women did not possess the qualifications men possessed by reason ot experience as headmasters, which enabled them to examine the organisation of schools. He mentioned that two women inspectors had been appointed a year or so ago for examining the work of infant departments. L want to say, however, that l have no sympathy whatever with the department s point of view,” 'added Mr Parr. I consider the departmenta point of view regarding women inspectors is too conservative. There is no reason why women should not be appointed to districts in which women can get about as easily as men I o fey d ° wn - as an instruction t I ri l - blc Service Commissioner and the Director of Education,” Mr Parr concluded, “that the time has rn ed when women inspectors should he appointed and that the next appoint ment made should be that of a woman P ° HOy ' "' l,ioh

Mr. Parr stated further that he was fully in sympathy with the association I" f endeavour to give the control of to women** “mL 01 * in P art «ular oases women SLm % Mm r SLUo y , schools containing from 35 to an we?e S i„ howeve B r° Wds whfck hands ° f the Nation Doarcls, which sooner or later would probably tall into line with this Tde^