WOMEN'S REFORM LEAGUE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2431, 9 April 1915, Page 7

WOMEN'S REFORM LEAGUE

« EDUCATIONAL REFORMS STATUS AND WORK OF WOMEN TEACHERS A meeting of the Wellington Women's Branch of the .Now Zealand Political SS, League WM held in the Theosomp thi n olllß , al '? nce Street, last evening, the president, Mrs. C. Earle, being in , t . ljalr - educational reforms havo been brought before public notice that 8 ? P oU l' derabl y 'ate, the fact Po .V ir A ycrs > BA '> aDtl Miss N. Wo.i- in ii We / e to talk 011 "Women's nl; rt s tlo °i alld ]ts Recognition under the Education Act," ,vas suEliirht m° /n k j.^ at some interesting that iZ h f ° throwß Upon tho tiiat Jies before women iu the matter childnSf 1 ® t0 the 6ducatioG of their opening the subject , educatioll > gave a definition of education. The general idea, raf?nn lrig speaker, was that education nas connected with schools and aohers, but a much wider application • n™ was needed. It concerned eiery influence that wae brought to bear upon tho child. The wholo community wag responsible, but women particularly because upon them rested the responsibility of laying the foundations. For that reason tho education or girls was of supreme importance, tutfterto all administration had been h V?!.™" 1 and consequences were that the importance of the education of girls and- infants was not understood, because their needs were not known, there were at the present time overcrowded classes, unsuitable furniture and surroundings, and. inexperienced teachers. Infants noeded the best teachora. Another consequence was that girls were less expensively educated than boys, although capitation and fees were the same. Even in the secondary sphools they were made to pay for the boys. Tho remedy lay in co-operation. Men had attempted the impossible, for there were fundamental differences. One partner only had been made responsible. lhe trouble was that women wore apathetio, and were blind to their opportunities. They could and ought to j laV6 1 heen on school committees and hoards, and should know their powers. As a result of this apathy there was unsuitability of school conditions, particularly for infants, and the neglect of girls as has been shown by appointments that had been made. All tho higher positions were reserved for men. Women were not encouraged, and they had no status in mixed schools. The only remedy for these unsuitable lay in.co-operation. An opportunity for this Jay in the Council of Education, and it was the work of wonien to urge upon sister, women tho extreme importance of tho education ofgirls and wonien, and to urge them to realise their responsibilities. These lay "1 being members of the council, of boards, and committees, and to see that suitable women were selected for these positions. There would be a great reconstructive work after the devastation caused bv the war, end women, who were already showing much constructive ability, must fit themselves for what lay before them. Education was one of the most potent factors in effecting this constructive work and it therefore needed women to take an active interest in providing solid foundations upon which to build for the future.

Miss Coad spoke of tlie Women leacliers Association and what it aimed at doing. All over the Dominion women _ teachers were forming themselves into associations, the need for doing so having been felt after the appearance of the Education Act. One of their aims was to secure women representatives or suitable people on controlling educational bodies and institutes. It was the exception to find women on school committees or education boards, and even on the Education Institute, in spite of-the preponderance of women, they were still'praotically unrepresented. Another aim was to get the representative opinion of women teachers of the Dominion on various matters. Medical inspection was not what it should be, more system was needed. Certain matters "in regard to the education of infants and girls and the. position of women teachers needed the women's pronouncement. - The representative opinion of women teachers was not obtained through institutes because of men being so largely in the majority, as in one case, 55 to 2. They wanted to get direct representation and recognition as a women's society by Parliament, by the Minister, and by the Department. The specific work, however, of the "Women's Associations was to gain a .rcco o *- hit-ion of efficiency. They wanteil payments and promotions based on efficiency, and those they advocated from the women's point of view. In the new Act promotion and payment depended on the average attendance. Although they wanted this recognition made, they all saw that at tho present time it would be beyond the range of practical politics to inaugurate such a system right through the profession at once.-but at least a first instalment might be made without delay iu the case of certain teachers who had been teaching ten or fifteen years, and who wero now practically' in the same position as newcomers. Another cause of complaint was the system of transfers in cases of rising attendances, and yet another was the placing of young men from the Training College over the heads of capable and experienced women teachers. Details were gone into by Miss Coad of several anomalies that existed in regard to the system of average attendances which the new Act perpetuated, arid her final summing up was that it did not benefit many women teachers very much.

Ajvote of thanks,'proposed bv Mrs. Darling, and seconded by Mrs. Carter, for two most interesting addresses, was carried unanimously. The meeting also announced its gratification at, the acknowledgment made of the necessity for having women members on the Council' of Education, the Advisory Board to the Department', and expressed the opinion that women should make an effort to get women representatives on education boards and school committees to look after the educational interests of girls and infants.

At the conclusion of the meeting it was announced tliat" Mrs. Algar Williams is standing for a seat on tho Hospital Board.