CARRIED WOMEN AS TEACHERS.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 12911, 27 February 1906, Page 3

CARRIED WOMEN AS TEACHERS.

Woman must work is the verdict of modern times; but it her work is teaching, remarks the ■" Sydney Morning Herald." she must give it up when she marries. The question of married women being employed as teachers is being thoroughly discussed on the Continent, especially in Vienna. The independent working woman is a new but a necessary factor in modern economic life. The labour of men only would not suffice. For instance, says a writer in the " Xeues Frauenleben," in the Kingdom of Prussia alone 700.000 children would be deprived of any teaching whatever if the women ceased to teach. Thousands of factories would be closed were women's work abolished.

Au attempt was made in Germany in 1896 to stop the work of ma tried women in factories. The result of a Royal Commission was. not to interfere. The restrictions imposed on working women of the educated class have not. ~ however, been removed. Every woman- teacher employed by the German Government forfeits her post the day she marries. In the postal service it is the same, and in large business houses and offices, It. is often urged that it is for women's own sake they are not allowed to teach and marry; that to look after a husband and home, and rear children, !, is.enough work for anyone. The. young teacher would undertake her work~}vifh more...earnestness ,and seriousriessuf she, regarded it', "not as" a "temporary" expedient, but as a life-long calling. .As' regards her own children, the Viennese writer says that she would come back to them in the evening with more freshness, and be- able to do mote for them, than the mother who. amid- the various occupations of society, «r her bouse, ha* scarcely a half hour in the day to devote to her little ones.

As regards Government teacheis in Sydney who want to many and keep on their -work, a fairly safe rule, fe not to ask for permission to do so. One teacher remarked: " Most girls are glad to get out of teaching when they marry. Some have wanted to go ou with it." If ypu do wont to, the only way to do it* is without asking. If you say to the authorities, 'May I get" married and keep on my v/ork?' they will answer. 'Certainly not/ If you just get married and j;"o back to your work, they will raise 1.0 argument. It is Bot a crime to ge; married."