MARRIED WOMEN TEACHERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21859, 23 July 1934, Page 12

MARRIED WOMEN TEACHERS

Sir, —The case of the dismissal of the married woman teacher of the Redhill School affords an instanco of tho illogical. inconsistent and unjust treatment that under the new regulations is being meted out to one section, and one section only, of our public school teachers, namely, tho married women. In the above case it is admitted that the teacher has been many years in the Education Board's service and there is no question of her ability or suitability, her only offence being that she has had the temerity to take unto herself a husband. It is further admitted that her husband is a relief worker. "What I desire to protest against is the utterly indefensible principle of having in our education system two entirely different standards of qualification governing the appointment and employment of teachers, the one applicablo only to married women 'and the other operating in regard to all other sections of public school teachers. In tho case of those in the latter category, appointments ,to positions must be given to the applicant whose name is highest on the grading list, and I understand that dismissal from tho service can bo given only for gross misconduct, and thus a teacher has a guarantee of permanent employment such as is not attached to any other calling. On the other hand, tho former class, married women teachers, are now, under tho new regulations, on a totally different footing, as in their case scholastic attainments, long and efficient service or aptitude for tho teaching profession aro subordinated to tho question of the woman's financial needs. Tho amended regulations, made at the request of the education boards, were ostensibly intended to assist in relieving the unemployment problem by empowering the boards to dismiss a married woman when possessed of other adequate income, and tho very pertinent question at onco arises, Why was tho principle confined to one small section only, and not applied to the whole service P That the new system fails to achieve the avowed object for which it was introduced appears to ho beyond doubt; in tho Redhill case employment is taken from one, not because she has "married money," but a relief worker, and the failure of her appeal "settles a very important principle," according to the Auckland Education Hoard. Had tho teacher been a bachelor, he might have married an heires»; or inherited a fortune, without endangering his position, and whan applications are received to fill tho dismissed teacher's place, tho appointment must go, not to the applicant with tho greatest financial need, but to the one with tho highest grading. If the positions rendered vacant by dismissals aro not filled by teachers from the ranks of the unemployed, the boards' objective is not attained; if they aro so filled, then tho schools affected are discriminated against and are denied the right to the services of the most highly-qualified teacher available, and tho claim that the grading system ensures strict impartiality is shattered. Morrinsville. \V. Johnstone.