WOMEN TEACHERS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 81, 31 December 1919, Page 2

WOMEN TEACHERS

NEW ZEALAND ASSOCIATION

ANNUAL MEETING OF DELEGATES

THE EDUCATION OF GIRLS. The sixth annual meeting of the New Zealand Women Teachers' Association was held in the Education Board offices yesterday. 'Miss E. A. Chaplin, 8.A., of Christchurch, presided over an attendance of thirty-two delegates. _ In welcoming the delegates, Miss Chaplin said sho trusted tlio work of'tlio would prove of benefit to the community as a whole. Sho dealt with the question of educational rebuilding in tlio courso of her presidential'address. The days ahead, sho said, might bo fraught with the dangers that beset them in the past if heed wore not paid to tho lessons of the last five years. No section of the community could do grcoier service in a national reconstruction'campaign than the teachers, and now that the. political fight was' over it was hoped that the now leader in education would keep the Dominion, in the van of progress. A Danger Ahead. The destruction of tha flower of Britain's manhood had caused some of the nation's thinkers to take a pessimistic view of the future of the race. They had so long been accustomed to consider British intelligence as superior to that of other that tho thought of having to fall back in the march of nations was ono that could hardly bo grasped. Yet there were those who were convinced that the danger was very real. The perpetuation of so many of the race who were heavily handicapped from tho day of. their birth clainioil the attention of every worthy citizen, particularly of those who were lovers of children. Tho Department for Children's Welfare and. Special Schools in the Dominion had under its control on December 31-last year '1-197 children, many of whom were the innocent sufferers of an unfit parentage, and that number was annually increasing.. The part that heredity played in determining human destiny must bo admitted, but alas , for poor humanity if that were all. The benign influence of a good environment' had been wonderful in its effects, and encouraged educationists in their demands for the best, possible equipment in the schools. Above all, the, right individuals must be drawn into the teaching profession, for the personal factor in tho training of children would always be tho most potent one. No system "could bo, really successful whicli' failed to draw into tho ranks teachers .young men and women of outstandiug personality. A teacher endowed with good health, vigorous mentality, and a cheerful spirit, exerted an incalculable influence. The choice of the right kind of teacher was undoubtedly the first essential in any educational plan, aud no price was too high to;pay for that. Thorough physical training, and sound moral teaching by precept and practice must be an essential' part of a truly cuccessful system. • Education, of Girls. Dealing witii the need for an Improved system tor the education of girls, Miss Chaplin said that experience lmd taught those who wero not' wilfully blind to the lessons of city life, that greater encouragement should be' given, to' women teachers to cater for tho needs of older girls, and in every largo school an experienced teaoher should be set apart for that work. Just as a considerable part of the training of older boys was l>ce't done by men, so a great deal of _ the teaching that was essential' to tho right and efficient education of girls could only be dono by women. When that , was generally recognised in practice one section of reconstructive wqrk would have bo?n 'begun. The unhygienic domestic conditions revealed so frequently during. the epidemic must be laid largely a; the door of a system '"thiit "allowed girls to drift away irom school without a' knowledgo and 'practice of; tho' principles that governed a clean and healthy home life. The teaching of a well-de-filied curriculum in physiology and hy.giene, and the inculcation, by daily precept and practice of habits of neatness in dress and surroundings generally; were hut. a part of tho training which was the right'of ever)' girl. ' ' ' ' On the motion of Miss N. E. Coad, M.A., a vote of thanks' wt accorded Miss Chaplin lor her address;-• Institution of Reforms. Tliei annual report stated that during the year certain reforms had been instituted which i teachers had been advocating for some, years. "Chief amongthese were: (1) An increase in teachers' salaries, which was, however, in' no.wise commensurate with the increase in the cost of living; still, the improved salaries now oiYoied to junior teachers would, it was thought, make tlio profession more attract ive to youngl people in the future. (2) A Dominion scheme of side pay. Th'.s was u reform that tho association had been'"working for. (3) An amended syllabus, which teacheis had hoped they would have tho opportunity of consider-;, ing before it was finally adopted, but 'which the educational authorities brought out before it was expected. Without doubt the most far-reaclvng reform .of all was one that would have an incalculable effect upon women's . work-and 'influence. For the first time a woman had taken her seat as a niember_ of the Ilonsc of Commons, - while in New Zealand her right to a place in the House of Representatives had been admitted. The reptirt drew attention to the poor representation of. women teachers' at the .annual' meeting of the New Zealand Educational Institute. This, . it was stated, was partly due to the fact that several of tho larger branches had Wwi Eiilwlivided into smaller ones, each entitled to only ono representative, who was generally a , man. Tha mciii'licrship of- tlio New Zealand Association was 731, which it was hoped to increase during thn coming, year to 1090. An important feature of the year's work was the adurssion of. secondary teachers into, the association. It wns hoped that the or-' gan'-sation would add to its widening influence, and become a great power for efficient work in tlie'Dominion by adding to its membership all women teachers, ' primary, secondary, and technical. The finances of tho association were most satisfactory, and showed a credit balance of .€72 4s. Gd. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. Welfare of Girls. Miss Chaplin moved a remit from the Canterbury branch urging that in every large school (Grade V and upwards) the responsibilities' of the senior class mistress should include: (a) Special attention to the health, morals, and manners of tho girls; (b) tho general supervision and teaching of a correlated scheme of lefsons in elementary physiology ond hygiene; (2) the general oversight.of all those mailers wh cli especially affoct tho welfare of girls—such mistress to have a status and salary equal to that of. tho infant mistress. _ 111 moving; the remit, Mies Chaplin pointed out that owing to- the factsvof 'everyday life it was absoTutely essential that tho education' fystem. should be amended in tho direction indicated. There was no doubt that a vast improvement could bo made ill tho education of girls if they received especial' instruction on matters that affected theiis welfare. Miss N-. E. Coad (Wellington), in seconding iho remit, remarked that the women teachers had no desire—as might be suggested by some men teachers—to create any new position. But there wero certain things on which womeii could best impart instruction—in fact, it was their natural right to do so—nnd the range of subjects covered by tho remit came within that category. In view of tho fact that now education legislation would possibly bo brought down'iii the coming session, it was imperative, in her opinion, that the association should secure the support of other womon's organisations in nringing tho remit before the Government. • _■ The remit was enrried unanimously. Other remits carried were os-follow':— "That in order to rectify tho anomalous position of tlio first woman'assistant in Grado IV schools, when the school' is raised a grade, and a man is appointed, first assistant, (ho position of tho first woman assistant shall carry the same salary as that of tho first man assistant." (Otiigo.) • "That provision for 'stalling similar to that in eoparato infant schools should

bo-made for the inl'ant department of mixed schools." (Wellington.) "That provision should lx* mado for a women teaohcrj' representative on tlio Grading Appeal Board." (Canterbury.) Officers Elected. Officers were elected as follow.—President, Miss N. E. Coad, It.A. (Wellington); vice-presidents, Misses IT. M'Kenzn (Ota go) and E, Andrews (Taranaki); secretary, Miss 11 A. Clmpliu, B.A. (Canterbury); treasurer, Miss Mabel Smith (Canterbury); committee, Misses D Edwards (Wellington), L. Morgan (Poverty Bay), C. Barry (Auckland), llnlston and C. E. Wnrdlo (South Island).