IN THE HOUSE

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXVIII, Issue 65, 10 March 1933, Page 3

IN THE HOUSE

Education Amendment POWERS OF COMMITTEE MARRIED WOMEN TEACHERS (Per Press Association) WELLINGTON, Last Night. The Education Amendment Bill, with amendments inserted by the Prime Minister in the committee stage, was put through the remaining stages and passed by the House of Representatives to-day. In the committee discussion on the bill Mr Forbes stated that in the case of transfers of teachers on account of over-scale salaries, removal expenses would be paid by the department. The teachers themselves would not be called upon to bear this cost. Mr Forbes later introduced amendments to the bill. One amendment permits education boards, without the approval of the senior inspector, to refuse to appoint female married teachers where their term of service as required by the regulations has been completed. ’ Mr Forbes pointed out that the fact to be considered was not the teacher’s qualifications or fitness, but her financial position, and this could be decided by the board without consulting the inspector. Through a misunderstanding it was proposed to empower school committees to suspend teachers for neglect of duty, but the clause was amended to confine school committees’ authority for suspension to cases of immoral conduct or gross misbehaviour. The provision for the compulsory enrolment in special classes of subnormal children was modified to provide for special prior examination by

the school medical officer. Those amendments were passed by the committee shortly after, and the bill was then reported to the House. Mr P. Fraser (Wellington Central) moved that the bill bo recommitted for the purpose of re-considering the clause dealing with the question of the imposition of fines on school teachers. He expressed the opinion that this aspect of the bill required further and more earnest consideration. His motion was defeated by 42 to 22, and the- bill was read the third time and passed.