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TEACHERS OUT OF WORK.

AUCKLAND'S LARGE NUMBER.

OVER 200 NOT PERMANENT.

QUESTION OF MARRIED WOMEN.

There are 209 teachers in the Auckland education district without permanent positions and 74 have not secured even relieving work, according to a report submitted to the Education Board yesterday, when the position and its contributing factors were considered. Further reference was made to the case of a married woman teacher who recently applied for the position of assistant at a school at which, her husband was headmaster.

The return showed that four students who left the Training College as far back as 1923 are not in permanent employment. The figures for each year s output from the college are as follows, representing those not in permanent employment and those in relieving positions: —1923, 4, 0; 1924, 5, 1; 1925. 6, 0; 1926, 9, 3; 1927, 40, 14; 1928, 109, 81; 1929, 36, 36. Temporary employment has been provided for 135 ex-trainees out of a total of 209 not in permanent employment. All men students available have beon placed, the 74 teachers unemployed being girls.

Married Women Teachers. 1 When mention was mado of carried women . teachers in 'positions, the chairman, Mr. A, Burns, said that since last year ten women teachers in the servics had married and were remaining in the service.

" Many young teachers cannot climb the ladder as too many rungs are occupied by married women," said Mr. H. S. W. King.

Replying to Mrs. V, Donaldson, Mr. Burns said the board had no control over women teachers who married. Mrs. Donaldson mentioned the case of two girls who were not-in permanent employment, and said that one would probably have" to go into domestic service until a position was available. -

The chairman said discretionary power in- appointing married women teachers was required by the board. A referendum of teachers taken recently showed that, an overwhelming number was in favour of the board having such power. Influx. From the South.

How appointments of southern teachers have affected the position was shown in a return submitted of incomings to and outgoings from the Auckland education district. It was stated that during the period from January 1, 1929, to January 31, 1930, 98 teachers had been appointed to the Auckland district from southern districts, while only 59 had left Auckland for southern districts.

Tho special case considered concerned a married woman teacher who was requested by tho board at its last meeting not to press her claim to appointment as assistant at a school which her husband controlled. In a letter received from tho teacher the application -was withdrawn and a spirited reply made to tho ■remarks of-board members,-: rv • : e I Tho' writer stated:—" The crux of; the whole matter lies, in this fact. " Scarcely one board meeting occurs without one or more married women—often with children much younger than mine, and usually with a wage-earning husband—being appointed to various positions. You have admitted at least ono other woman teaching in the samo school as her husband, but I cannot recall reading adverse comments when- her appoitttmontJfcvas confirmed. Why lias your board waited till my c-aso arises to make such strong public comment ? .. f " Bight to • Hold Position." "'Why should Ij who ani endeavouring to do my utmost, for my children, be asked to withdraw ' in the face of your opposition,' when so many other married women are teaching in peace solely for their own comforts and luxuries, and at a much higher salary than I could hope to draw, particularly when I am so much moro highly graded than the next highest applicant for the position?. I emphatic, ally maintain my right to hold this position if I wish to do so, and your board has stated definitely that it has no option hut to appoint me to the position, but in view, of the constant pin-pricking that would be likely to occm*. taking all pleasure from my work, I have decided to withdraw' my application, in deference to my husband's wishes." -' Mr. T. U. Wells said the board was attacking the principal and not the woman personally. In England the local educational authorities had the right to insert in contracts with women teachers a clause terminating the contract in the ovent' of marriage. As a- general rule it might bo stated that a. woman's chief interest was in her home. It was necessary also to consider that married women teachers were keeping young teachers out of positions. It was decided to accept the resignation and to forward tho reply to the. local school committee, - which objected to tho woman's appointment. 1

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Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19300206.2.37

Bibliographic details

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20482, 6 February 1930, Page 9

Word Count
769

TEACHERS OUT OF WORK. New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20482, 6 February 1930, Page 9

TEACHERS OUT OF WORK. New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20482, 6 February 1930, Page 9