WOMEN TEACHERS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 10107, 22 October 1918, Page 3

WOMEN TEACHERS

SALARIES DISCUSSED DEMAND FOR INCREASE IN THE SCALE. Miss Coad presidod at the general meeting •of " the" Wellington Women Association last night, when the subject under - discussion was the remedy for the shortage of teachers, which all held.. to be largely the question of salary.

j Miss Coad was the chief speaker, and |in her address she said that an increase of salary was the only remedy for the shortage of teachers, but it must be understood that the question before the meeting was not equal pay for equal work. When women discussed this question it was generally assumed that this was' tho issue. So far as the teaching profession went, it was the custom to saythere was equal pay for equal work. And so there was, in so far that there was no legal bar to women occupying the highest positions. But, as a matter of fact, things were so adjusted that at least 55 per cent, get salaries of £l4O and less, while none of the highest positions were occupied by women. -Some people would criticise the ' action of the association on the ground that the question, of salaries should be left to the N.Z.E.I. Although the institute did support women's claims, the woman's point of view could be better ascertained at a women's meeting; it was more difficult to get her point of viow at a mixed meeting. . In-the .-general- scramble for salaries, said Miss Coad, there is a danger of some women teachers being "lost altogether." When the Act of 1914 was passed, those teachers with Grade 2 salaries (£l2O to £140) recoivod no increase at all.. As to the question of the that of the remedy for the shortage, of teachers, women teachers, Miss Coad contended, were not placed on the same financial standing as women in certain other departments. For instance, in the public service professional cadets, matriculated, receive for the first year (if living at home) £7O, (if away from home) £88; second year £BS, or £9B; third vear, £IOO or £108; fourth year, £020,. and filth year £l4O. The matriculated teacher receives for the first and second year (if living at home) £6O, away from home £Bs'; third and fourth years, £SO and £75; 'and fifth year, £llO. The cadet has less study,' and, therefore, less expense, with ,an assured prospect of an incre'ase.without moving from her office, and,no country service is required. A teacher has more study, and, therefore, more expense in preparing for her work, * and she has the hardship of a backblocks school in prospect. Hotel workers (women) receive a total of £147 12s a year. Shorthand writers and typists receive £96 to commence, and £IOB after six months' service; £ll4 the second year, £l2O tho third year, and £132. the lflprth year. The necessary qualifications aro the proficiency,, certificate, for, ■ Standard 6, and speed certificate for 80 words a minute in shorthand, and 30 words a minute in typewriting. '

Comparing" this with a teacher's salary, the latter receives, first and second year, £65 and third and fourth year, £SO and £75; fifth year, £110; Qualification for £6O being matriculation, and for £llO four years in training as pupil teacher, and Training College student; teacher's certificate C or D; country service required. Comparing the woman-clerk in the. Civil Service with the assistant teacher, for the former there is an efficiency bar at £165, but if she is efficient she can proceed by annual increments of £ls to £220, without moving from office to office. The wpman, teacher can be blocked'at £l2O or £l4O, no matter how efficient or responsible her work, what examinations she may have passed, or whether she is in town or country. The following figures also show how badly the majority of teachers are paid:—379 receive £llO to £120; 1728 receive .£l2O to £140; 1167 veceive £l5O to £180; or 73 per cent, of teachj ens receive £lsl 18s or less.

Some of the arguments that havo been used against increasing women's salaries were reviewed by the speaker, who said that her arguments held good in other professions also. Passing on to the argument as to whether it was worth while 'increasing their salaries, Miss Coad expressed the opinion that it resolved itself into the question as to whether it was worth while getting n better and more adequate supply of teachers. No one could expect the ambitious and brainy, girl to enter the profession under present conditions Law, medicine, dentistry, eto., offered more attractions and more money. It paid other girls better to become typistes, clerks, etc. They were sure of more pay in less time and with les* trouble and expense than, the teacher. The war had no doubt contributed t*i the shortage of teachers, but iho trouble was there before war began. The real cause was the poor induce ment offeree}, .a.s.'.thQ.years go on. Speaking "of. .the,,, importance of. the work, Miss Coad said, that the shorter hours of the teachers were more than coun-ter-balanced by. the high pressure under which they worked. A teacher's responsibilities were also very great. The necessity for a supply of gooo. teachers was pointed out, as this wax one of thc> first requirements of the State, rind was really more important than medicine or law", and Miss Coad reiterated that the remedy for tb> shortage of teachers was a financial one. This meant taxation, and the threo million pounds which some people wore asking for was not too much. Some discussion followed the president's address; and the following motion was unanimously passed:—"That the. minimum salary for the certificated teacher .be, £l5O, rising by £ls increments to £2-00." ■'