MARRIAGE A BAR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21252, 4 August 1932, Page 11

MARRIAGE A BAR

GIRL TEACHER'S BOND "A GiLBERTIAN POSITION" The case of a girl student a.t the Auckland Training College who wished to become married and leave the teaching profession was considered at a meeting of tho Auckland Education Board yesterday. The girl advised the board recently of her intention to many, but th© Education Department stipulated that she should pay for the training she bad received. Consequently, the girl withdrew her notice of resignation. Mr. H. S. W. King said the department was taking up an absurd position. If the girl owed anything to the State she was repaying it by marriage. . Air. J. Patterson said the girl's best course was to marry and then allow herself to be dismissed. "The department holds that marriage is a. variation of the student's bond to teach for three years after leaving the college, and she, -would still be liable." said the chairman, Mr. A. Burns. "At one time the board had the right, to release students from their bonds. However, the department, now regards marriage as a bar."

Mr. E. C. Purdie: The position is Gilbert inn. Mr. Burns said it was thought, a different view might be taken by the department. owing to the number of teachers out. of work. The girl had expressed hpr willingness to resume teaching should she be needed. .As things were at present, she would probably receive only three months' work next year. "It is rather peculiar that if a girl is dismissed she pays nothing, but if she gets married she lias to pay the cost of her training, in iho present case about £100," said Mr. Burns. It was decided to re-state Ihe case to the department. COMMENT BY DIRECTOR INTERESTS OF THE STUDENT | [by telf.gkarrr—rrtEss association | 'WELLINGTON, 'Wednesday The facts are not quite as stated by the .Auckland Education Board, stated the Director of Education, Mr. T. B. Strong, concerning an Auckland woman teacher's request to be allowed to resign without forfeiting her bond in order to marry. "The student in question will have finished her two years' training by the end of the present year," said Mr. Strong. "If she had been allowed to leave now she could not, have become a, certificated teacher and therefore could not. have received an appointment. It is plainly in the interests of the student herself that she should finish her training and secure a definite status as a teacher. Further, it is by no means as certain as the board supposes that the present surplus of teachers is anything but temporary."