ECONOMIC MEASURE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LI, Issue 120, 22 April 1931, Page 6

ECONOMIC MEASURE

THE MARRIED TEACHER. BOARD'S POWERS INCREASED. (By Telegraph —Special to Standard.) WELLINGTON, April 21. Education boards, under the new powers in the Finance Bill, have discretionary power to dispense with iemale married teachers. The Minister of Education, Hon. H. Atmore, remarked m the House to-night that the first consideration must bo the welfare of the children, but it had been suggested that there be a certain amount of latitude __ in regard to granting marks. The Education Committee had found during its inquiry that there was a growing feeling against the employment of a man and his wife in teaching if there were certificated teachers out of employment. Therefore the boards should have discretionary power to consider the economic factor without injuring the children’s interests. There were some cases where teachers lrad married returned soldiers and the woman was the breadwinner. Such teachers would not be affected. A safeguard in operation would be that the decisions would be subject to the approval of the senior inspector. Every year there was usually a difficulty for a few months in placing certificated teachers and as there was a large number out of work at present, and it was impossible, owing to the economic conditions, to continue the policy of breaking down large classes, this factor had become more urgent.