WOMEN TEACHERS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 241, 6 July 1920, Page 6

WOMEN TEACHERS

A TOOTHBRUSH DlttLL PROTEST,

f A meeting of the Wellington Women Teachers' Association was held in the Education Board rooms last evening, Miss N. E. Coad, M.A., presiding. The principal business of the meeting was to discuss toothbrush drill under existing conditions in infant schools.

A considerable amount of correspondence was first dealt 'with. Among tlio letters received .was one from the Otago branch of the association forwarding tho following resolution:—"That, the Otago branch of the Women Teachers' Association protest, agahist the introduction of toothbrush diill as part of the school curriculum lor. the infant department. Even did the already full syllabus admit of the time for it, such a drill would bo highly impracticable its well as radically wrong in principle, it being generally recognised that children should be taught to perform their ablutions and +o clean their teeth beforo leaving home, and not after coming to school." Resolutions were received from the Women's National Council expressing the view that in all future school build'ings adequate provision should be ru&iln for assembly rooms, children's cloakrooms, heating apparatus and teachers' staff room's; also that in future teachers should have an influential voice in regard, to the architectural requirements of the buildings. A. memorandum received from Mr. G. Stewart (secretary of the Education Board) stated that in view of the Insistent and widespread jlemand for additional hostel accommodation for secondary pupils and training college students in various quarters, it would be inn'ossible for the department to entertain for tho present proposals of the kind suggested in the association's memorandum. A deputation tn the Minister of Education in regard to tho matter was advised/ Another letter was from the 'N.Z.E.I. (Wellington branch) in regard to the erection of a permanent memorial to the New Zealand soldiers who fell in the Great War. Touching the proposal, that teachers should be given a voico in regard to tha architectural requirements of new schools, Miss Myers expired the belief Hint tho infant department of tho new school on the site of the Terrace Gaol would ho tho first part put. up. It was essential that it should be-planned to the best possible advantage, and she thought it very desirable that tho designs should bo shown to teachers so that they who best knew the requirements of both teachers and children from practical experience shoti'M be able to bring forward suggestions. Action in regard to tho hostel question dealt with in Mr. Stewart's memorandum was left in the hands of a committee. Matters in connection with a conference that was hold in May 'between teachers and inspectors wero discussed. Miss Achcson was to havo presented her report of the proceedings, but as she nan unable tq attend, Miss Williams read a report. '

ij Miss Coatl brought before the meeting (fiomo of the matters (notably salaries) dealt with at the conference i'f seeondteachers held recently, and tlio following resolution was passed:—".That the proposed differentiation between the salaries of men and women teachers in secondary schoo.'s is unfair in the following respects—(a) In the payment of single men' as well as married ones on the basis of domestic responsibilities, while any such responsibilities are ignored iy the caso of nil women. 0>) In the proposed differentiation of salary in the cast of men and women entrants in secondary schools where qualifications and capabilities are equa'., and where the question of domestic responsibilities does not enter."

• The matter of toothbrush drill was the subject of much discussion, and Iho following resolutions were passed: "This meeting of women teachers recognises the need for the spreading of hygienic principles among the children and sympathises with the attempt of the Department in its proposed measures of reform with regard to dental hygiene, hut would respectfully call attention to certain facts which make such a proceeding impracticable of successful _ treatment:'(l) Indiscriminate treatment interferes with the privilege of the parents and undermines home influence; ($) the unhygienic conditions of our schools and lack of facilities, together .with tho large size, of tho classes, arp liable to increase-disease; (3) a conference of the authorities and the teachers concerned might onnblo a satisfactory means of inaugurating this.desirable reform; (1) it is hoped that such a conference will be arranged," Theso resolutions are to be forwarded to the proper authorities,