WOMEN TEACHERS

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12433, 29 April 1926, Page 5

WOMEN TEACHERS

ANNUAL MEETING OF ASSOCIATION. Tile annual meeting of the Wellington Women Teachers’ Association, followed by a social evening, was held last night in the Pioneer Club social hall. Miss Lea, the president, presided over a good attendance. The annual report read by the secretary, Mrs Foully, stated that:—Activities have been chiefly centred upon : (1) Increasing membership; (2) organising the activities of women teachers generally throughout tho branch *, (3) assisting the executive of the N.Z.W.T*A. in the preparation of various pamphlets : (4) distributing the pamphlets to members of tho branch. Early in the year every woman teacher employed by the Wellington Education Board was circularised by the branch nr.d asked if she were: (1) A member of the W.T.A.: (2) a member of the N.Z.E.1.; (3) in favour of differentiation. Generally speaking the answers were most satisfactory. Not two per cent, of the answers received favoured differentiation, thus conclusively proving that the women teachers as a body are united in their opposition to this measure, and are prepared to work for its repeal as long as may be necessary. Over 95 per cent, of those circularised replied. This we take as a sign that women teachers are at last realising that the time has come when the woman teacher must shoulder her own responsibilities and maintain her place in the educational world by her own efforts. Our membership now stands at the number 126. entitling us to three representatives at the annual meeting of the N.Z.W.T.A. . Two lectures were given during the course of the year—Miss Kane speaking on the position of woman in educational circles in TJ.S.A. and in America generally—a most interesting account and greatly enjoyed by all present. Miss England, too, gave an address on educational matters in Europe. As Miss England had recently returned she had much to tell, and her address waa much appreciated. We must express our satisfaction with the recent appointment of Miss Hetherington as Inspector of Secondary Schools, and we trust that this appointment may be regarded as an earnest of ( the Department’s intention of according to wojmen teachers that recognition which their services have so long merited. It is gratifying to note that a member of our association has been elected vice-president of the local branch of the N.Z.E.1., Miss Magill having been accorded that honour a*: the last annual meeting of the branch. The committee has lost for the time being the services of Miss Edwards, one of our most active members, w ? ho has gone on exchange to London. The committee desires to reaffirm its belief in tho need for a woman organiser. It is unfair to expect/ any one teacher to undertake the amount of work which has been done by the present secrotar7 of the N.Z.W.T.A. during the year past, yet without this splendid effort on the part of Miss Andrews the association would not have been in the strong position it is in to-day. We have, much pleasure in announcing the election of three’ women delegates by the Wellington branch to the conference of the N.Z.E.I.

The fallowing officers were elected: —■ President, Miss Lea; vice-presidents, Miss Park, Miss Magill; secretary, Mrs Fouhy; assistant secretary, Miss Richmond; committee. Misses fe. Finlayson, d'Emden, Hargreaves, and Pache; delegates to National Council of Women, Miss Magill, Airs Foully; delegates to conference of New Zealand W.T.A., Misses Lea, Park, and Little. After the business meeting a social evening was held when musical items were rendered by Mrs Rishworth, Miss Gilpin, and Missl. Joseph. Supper was served at the conclusion of the evening.