MARRIED WOMEN TEACHERS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21199, 3 December 1930, Page 5

MARRIED WOMEN TEACHERS.

TO THE EDITOB. Slßj—l am somewhat surprised that a cultured gentleman like Mr P. B. Fraser put forth such a lamentable defence of the appointment of married women teachers. _ Let me say here that I regret such a spirit of indignation, infused with severe, unjust criticism, has crept between the hues of his letter, and that in his endeavour to condemn the Totara School Committee and householders has hit well below the belt. Methinks Mr Fraser was back again in his old seat on the Education Board listening to the dictation of a school committee, and that his arrogant was stirred to indignation, hence his letter. While wishing to attract the attention of thoughtful and interested readers, Mr Fraser starts off by saying the teacher who was appointed assistant teacher at Totara School was much the highest on the list. (She was the.highest only by three marks). The Totara School Committee does not question the efficiency of the teacher or the lawfulness of her appointment, but it holds that, by appointing married women . teachers who nave husbands capable of maintaining tnem it will cause unemployment among teachers, and will make one position less for those 150 Dunedin College students wuo complete their college course this year. According to its bond with these young teachers, the Education Department requires them to teach for a definite pen°d, and yet, at the same stroke, it retards the fulfilment of the bond by fducmg the number of positions available for them, To my mind, this is a of7 n . C f on A rad^ tory .- atti l ude - As « “atter Ed “ catl °n Board is most syratowards our protest, but is overT „ the . de Partment—or rather, should I say, by the senior inspector? it seems strange that such a body of educated men should be forced to submit and then remain dormant. We are assured. eff « rt P ut for th by the Totara School Committee will not be in St. IaWB reSUlt fro™ sustained

Fraser goes on to say that he discredits the resolution as being the best thoughts of the district from which it E ate v nd be then expresses what he to i. be tbe viewpoint of experienced teachers It seems strange that the majority of the teachers with whom I have discussed the matter are strongly opposed .to the present regulation B lf Mr Fraser doubts this, let him take a Ot f aco lld a U n in among the teachers of North Otago, and he,-will be considerably enNot only in this district has ! committee had support, but right r °Vßb. out New Zealand letters of com- , mendation have been received urging it bgbt the question out and stick to its guns. We need not thia stimulus* as our w* t m and just one people J. jl?- district voted absolutely unanimonsly against the appointment of the mrned woman teacher in this case. The thinjnng power of this community is I negligible quantity in the eyes of Mr Fraser, who speaks from his pedestal in S£ m of a n Shion ;- Suroly i. the^ Unanimous aecision of a section of the taxpayers of the country should be respected. We dein 6 a tru - e Periotic spirit crisis Inch f n a dep { ress i“ and nat, °nal crisis suen as is being experienced alVth e p P m Sent t,m . e , w ben the State must fop tW consider the greatest good tor the greatest number. Hence, our aim has been, and-is still, to bring before tS Son Vth ln > stic e of-the present reguktion in the hope that it may be speedily amended. Surely the Education depart mqnt must see the weakness of a regulaSL a, ? ure tte day o£ amend-To-day. Mr Atmore can say, “This economic waste must, cease: to-morrow arrangements can be: put on jo6t to start the new year with students qualified for the positions now held by married women who arc supported by capable husbands! thus relieving the unemployment." r r. nly a Bh °rt time ago the Totara School Committee applied to the board for Zme assista . nc e for the maintenance work on .the asphalt square. The reply was that, owing to financial stringency, the department had cut down all subsidies Ff r eally urgent cases, and the board had put off several of its men, postponing much work till finances improved. Again to displa y our true patriotic zeal i=^.;L ende i. aV i.u Ur ? Bsist our country we finaijty maintenance work to- a But now. Sir, the Totara School Committee and householders ' enter protests against an Education Board that has no power, and an Education Department that nas no say. The senior inspector lawfully appoints a married woman who has re-signed-her school and drawn her superannuation ■ moneys, and whose husband is a qualified carpenter and in employment, enabling her to draw a substantial salary and , usurp position to -which another is rightly entitled.- Farmers’ wives and daughters are called in question by Mr hraser because they assist on the farm, and more honour to them. The average lamer to-day can only maintain his wife when we are asked by tUe. State to support and maintain married women, teachers as well, it is time this economic extravagance was stopped. I appeal to committeemen, householders and teachers alike to support the Totara School-Committee in its just effort to defend the dignity of our country, to provide employment for young students., and cause this one economic extravagant waste to discontinue. In conclusion, we resent Mr Fraser’s unkindly imputations of “Vulgar energy and jealousy” These attributes are not to be found among the so-called “ champions of misdirected sentiment.”—l am, etc., J. Edgar Ewing, Hon, secretary, Totara School Committee.