WOMEN INSPECTORS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22612, 2 July 1935, Page 16

WOMEN INSPECTORS

BOYS’ PHYSICAL TRAINING MASTER “GOES ON STRIKE,” -. u_ • The National Association of British Schoolmasters, at their conference at Swansea recently, expressed bitter resentment at the action of the Southampton County Education Committee in dismissing a teacher, Mr Harold Lomas, because he refused to allow his class of senior boys to be inspected by a woman inspector of physical training. The debate showed that the conference regarded the dismissal as a grave issue involving one of the association’s main principles, and the delegates passed with enthusiasm a resolution applauding the attitude of the teacher, condemning the action of the Education Committee, and pledging full support to the executive in any action taken on behalf of the dismissed member. The resolution described the attitude of the Education Committee as one which “ can bring only ridicule upon a great national service and is entirely out of harmony with modern social conditions.” Mr A. E. Warren, the general secretary, explained that the Education Committee concerned had nothing to do with the borough of Southampton, its headquarters being at Winchester. The ages o- boys in the class ranged from just under 12 to past school-leaving age, and the teacher concerned was formerly in the navy, where he had been a champion boxer at his weight. “ I should have thought that any education authority would have been glad to have a man of this type teaching boys,” said Mr Warren.

Trouble first arose in June, 1933, when a woman inspector arrived at the school and the teacher politely refused to parade his class in front of her. Later the Director of Education for the area called at the school and said he had orders to suspend the teacher unless he obeyed instructions. Afterwards the association got into touch with the director and requested that a deputation should be received, and much correspondence passed. “We did all that was possible to settle this matter by negotiation,” continued Mr Warren. “It cannot be said that we have acted hastily. On February 20 this year the teacher was again visited for the same purpose of having his class inspected by a woman inspector, and he again refused. Now he has been dismissed. I wonder if the Education Committee concerned has ever inquired at the great public school of Winchester whether the boys there are inspected by l&idi6Si * \ “There is in Winchester High street a statue of King Alfred, a wonderful representation of manhood at its best. The Winchester authorities ought now to complete the picture. They should bring .the scene up to date and erect at the other end of the High street a statue of the woman who scolded Alfred for burning the cakes. Perhaps they think it ought to be healthy and wise to pass our administration of education to Girl Guides.” . Mr Warren called the attention of the conference to the statement of policy which the association had prepared on the subject. This said that they were strongly opposed to inspection or supervision by women of the physical training of boys’ classes. “The association is confident that it expresses the normal view of both sexes when it states that it is neither desirable nor natural that a woman should be placed in charge of the physical training of a boy,” continued the statement. “ Inspection or supervision is of small value unless the inspector _ is able to communicate without restraint with the teacher responsible for the class, and such communication is hardly likely to be achieved by ivomen inspectors when dealing with a schoolmaster. Indeed, such communication is resented by a normal man. Schoolmasters regard such inspection or supervision as a violation of their personal privacy and submit only under compulsion. No question of male superiority arises; it is a question of propriety and fitness for a particular job. But above all the matter concerns intimately the welfare of the lads.” Mr H. Gordon (Stoke Newington), last year’s president, said they resented the fact that an education committee of this type could bring ridicule on their profession. What the teacher concerned had said in effect was: “This is a man’s job and I do not want any woman whatever to begin interfering here.”