WOMEN TEACHERS

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 142, 15 May 1930, Page 11

WOMEN TEACHERS

ANNUAL CONFERENCE. • WELLINGTON, May 14. At the conference of the New Zealand Women’s Teachers’ Association 1/he 'annual report stated that the year had been a busy one. Evidence had been given on behalf of women teachers before the Parliamentary Recess Committee, a deputation had brought before the Minister the matters brought up at the last conference, and a protest was made against differentiation in the proposed salary scheme. The Minister gave the deputation an attentive hearing, and has since publicly announced that women inspectors would be appointed. The matters put before the committee were chiefly: (a) “Equality of opportunity as between men and women for promotion to head teachershipsj (b) appointment of women to the inspectorate; (c) an equitable salary scale; (d) position of married women teachers.” The association was supported by the N.Z.E.I. in the request that there should be a standard salary scale for teachers irrespective of sex. A report was prepared and presented to the education boards on the association’s views on the question of the appointment of married women teachers. The Minister was aiso approached with regard to a woman as vice-principal in training colleges. The following officers were elected: President, Mi6s E. Andrews (Taranaki) ; vice-presidents, Miss F. G. Taylor (Auckland), and Miss J. Park (Wellington); secretary, Miss E. B. Lea; treasurer, Miss M. 1. Hardey.; committee, Misses Edmtd (Dargaville), Edwards (Wedington), Sullivan (Dunedin), V. I. Curtis (Manawatu). SEPARATE SCHOOLS. A new note was introduced into the deliberations when Miss Swap introduced a motion that separate boys’ and girls’ schools or departments should be provided with women head teachers in charge of the latter. This would, she said, provide legitimate avenues of promotion for women, and would be good for the girls as making them more self-reliant, and there would be more opportunities for handcraft. There was much opposition to the idea as most members thought the separation of boys and gins would not be for the good of either. Though it might make the position of women teachers better the majority opposed the remit in the interests of the children, feeling that as the echool was the training ground for future citizenship boys and girls should learn in school to live and work together. The appointment of women inspectors was urged.