TEACHERS' APPOINTMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20537, 11 April 1930, Page 14

TEACHERS' APPOINTMENTS.

Sir, —The trouble that has arisen over (he appointment of a lady teacher to Taupaki School, and similar trouble in other instance* shows the necessity of modifying thn present rigid application of tho grading list. It is to be hoped that the amended Education Act, which is due, 1 believe, nest session, will enable the boards to advertise for headmasters, instead of head teachers, for country schools and to give preference to married men wherever a residence is provided. Married men are debarred from many schools owing to lack of a residence and it is only fair that they should have preference when thero is one. As to tho married women teacher question, when the Auckland Education Board took a referendum' the touchers in the board's district voted iu favour of the board being given discretionary power in appointing married women, tho figures being about. 3200 ayes to 300 noes. So not only school committees and boards, but a very large majority of Auckland teachers, and probably teachers in other education districts, are in favour of this modification of til,) grading list. Members of school committees would no doubt agree that tho list should operate as between married men in estimating their claims for positions for which they are suitable and between ladies for positions suitable for ladies. Reasonable modifications would not affect the principle of grading and in view of tho wide demand for such modifications, with which demand many teachers are in sympathy, tho executive of tho Now Zealand Educational Institute would do well to moilify its present attitude. Teachkr.

Sir, —The explanation of the Taupaki School Committee's attitude in opposing (lio appointment of 11 married woman (earlier as set out by Mr. 'J 1 . P. R. Johnston only serves to show that it had'no real cause to dispute the. Education Hoard's action. The appointment was made in strict accordance with the hoard's policy and practice, Iho position going to Ihe applicant standing highest on the grading list, and it was superfluous for the board to supply any further reason. The committee, wo are told, object not to tlio person, but to the principle of employing married women teachers when married men are available. One may be excused for asking why ? Whilo the cotijniittee objects, 011 principle, to the employment of a married woman because she has a husband who may be able to provide for the family, they are quite prepared to accept, without question, a married man, who may have ample private means or who may have a wife with a good income, or bo engaged in a lucrative business! I am prepared to take the charitable view that the committee was actuated by the best of motives, but failed to give to the subject that careful thought that it merited, and so have possibly done a grave injustice to a deserving teacher, and certainly have placed her in a very awkward and unenviable position—one that .[ am sure no member of the Taupaki Committee would care to occupy. The general adoption of the principle they stand for would mean the destruction of the present grading system and the substitution of a policy that would be unjust, unworkable and utterly indefensible. Wm. Johnsxone.