TEACHING PROMOTION'S.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19255, 18 February 1926, Page 11

TEACHING PROMOTION'S.

THE CLAIMS OF WOMEN. MOVE BY THE INSTITUTE. LEGAL ACTION INTENDED. The New Zealand Educational Institute has for sonic time been giving careful consideration to the practice of several education boards of advertising for a headmaster in cases where the regulations do not require thai the position should be filled by a male teacher. This practice has" had the effect of excluding women teachers from many of the highest positions in the service, notwithstanding the fact, that • probably three-fourths of the teachers in the service are women. A letter was received yesterday by thq Auckland Education Board from the institute's, solicitors, . stating it was intended to test the question by lega'l proceedings, and the institute wished to afford the boards ' concerned an opportunity of justifying the course adopted by them. The general principle of the Act, the letter stated, i was . that, the board should select for appointment or transfer the candidate highest on the graded list of teachers, and if that candidate was a woman, she • was entitled under the Act to be appointed to the position.' • The particular cases in which the Auckland Board was concerned were advertisements for headmasters for Nelson Street, 'Alexandra and ■ Mangatepara schools. • ! ■ '< Various aspects t of the question were discussed by the board in committee, the general opinion being that the "mailer was one for legal advice. A motion that the matter should be placed in the hands of the board's solicitor was carried. Mrs. Ferner disagreed with the resolution, and. at ; her request her opposing vote was recorded.