TEACHERS' POSITIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20650, 23 August 1930, Page 14

TEACHERS' POSITIONS.

TOO MANY MARRIED WOMEN.

SCHOOL COMMITTEE'S PROTEST. BOARD UNABLE TO HELP. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] CHRISTCHURCH. Friday. That they had too many married women teachers in their school was the contention of a deputation from tho Papanui School committee, which appeared before the Canterbury Education Board to-day. The board chairman sympathised with them, but said the board could offor no redress, because it was bound by tho law. " I don't think that it is fair," remarked Mr. G. Wray. the first speaker from the deputation. There were many teachers out of work, he said, yet they had so many married teachers at Papanui. The husbands of most of theso were earning, too. The committee thought that they should have something to say about it. Mr. R, Donald said that of tho women teachors at Papanui one or two were single and the rest married. lie did not think that it was a fair thing for tho teaching profession or for the - school. " As far as the old members of this board are concerned, we have always been strongly against married women teachers being appointed where single ones might have the position," replied Mr. W. A. Banks, chairman oi tho board. " However, '■ho law is dead against us.!., the married women are on the grading list and if they have tho highest marks that is the end of it. We have appointed singlo women teacheis over married ones. Then there has beon a protest and an appeal. We have gone bo far as to obtain legal advice, but our solicitor has told us that he would not contest the appeal because the law on tho point was so plain." Mr. C. S. Thompson: Apart from the principle, which we admit is wrong, is tho Papanui School suffering ? Mr. Wray: We are not in a position to say. The deputation then withdrew.