SCHOOL STAFFING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17632, 19 November 1920, Page 6

SCHOOL STAFFING.

PROPORTION OF WOMEN. ' THE NEW REGULATION. PROTEST FROM OTAGO. [BY TELEGRAPH.— OWN COPJS.ESFOXDENT.I DUKEDI.V. Thursday. A discussion on the regulation dealin-* with the staffing of schools, as passed in the recent session of Parliament in the amendment to the Education Act, took place at the meeting of the Education Board to-day, and it was decided to send an emphatic protest to the Minister.

i The secretary (Mrs. S. M. Park!, reI ported that under the new regulation at ; least one of the first two. two of the first j four, and three of the first six assistants j in mixed schools of Grades 6 or 7. must Ibe women. The effect of this would be that in 12 of the board's largest schools j the present fourth assistants, who were | males, and most of whom were teaching j the fourth standard, would be superseded \ by women at February 1 nest, or' as soon I thereafter as the board could make | arrangements. The present rate of salary for fourth and fifth standard positions in these schools was £210 to £240. but at February 1 nest the rate for the fourth assistant would be £280 to £500. This , would mean that the present male fourth j assistant would be transferred to another I position of equal emolument, and he j superseded by a female at a verv much , increased salary. " * ! The chairman (Mr. ,T. Wallace) said j this was a most important matter as it | completely altered the staffing of their I schools. It was raising the position of the women at the expense of the men and would make it quite possible for a staff to consist of five worsen and one ] man Nowhere in the regulations did it | say how many men were "to be on the staff. As he had stated on a previous occasion he considered the payment allotted to the position of infant mistress a* more than the duties carried out Justified He thought the board should enter an emphatic protest against these regulation* The Minister had done far more for women than for men. They should protest with no feeble voice against regulations such as these being brought into operation without the parties, who had to administer them being consulted. What was coin? to be done with the men? The board had not positions for them. It meant that the men would have to applv for positions outside Otago, and as they all knew it would be more difficult for men, mahv of them married, «o move than it would be for women. He would move " That the board views -with ■ alarm regulation No. 27, and . enters an emphatic protest against the substitution of female assist, ants for male assistants in large schools and further protests that regulations such as these should not be brought into opera tion until they have been considered bv all those who have the administration of education in their hands." The motion was carried, it being decided in addition to ask other education boards to support the protest.