QUESTION OF LIBERTY

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 7, 9 January 1932, Page 6

QUESTION OF LIBERTY

MARRIED WOMEN TEACHERS

A keen, del>ate took place recently at a meeting of the Public School Teachers* lederation of New South I Wales, on the subject of the dismissal of married women' teachers in order to make- room for the newly passed students, from tha Training Colleges.

A proposal was brought, forward from tha Wagga branch in favour of dispensing with the services of married women teachers. The proposer said that the training schools wore- turning out 1500 students, for whom there were only 320 places, and the remedy suggested for this was that married women teachers should bs dismissed from the service to maka room. He was of opinion that people should not, in. these days, hold two jobs, and the women already had -work in their homes., The question asked, if ho thought that no person (man or woman) should hold ttro jobs,, did not appear to ekeit any reply. Mr. Bidtev said he thought the proposal was. a deliberate attempt at repudiation and bxeaeh. of contract. "If this is liberty ia Australia, 1' he remarked, "where we boast of our freedom, than give m« Sussia."' Dr. Currey, in proposing an amendment to the effect that tha resolution regarding mamed ■women should be deleted, said: "Why single oat married women teachers* (Why. notj pole-axe |tho college staff aud headmasters to make room for others?'* "Wltw helped in. chemist's shops, vs. resUtaants, and in many business houses. Oaeft they abandoned a fixed principle they were on shifting sand. Having any regard fox- Britisk justice, the Khoto argument was against the proposal. ,' I Another speaker said that ho 'knew lof ao ground on. ■which the conference could admit the necessity of dismissing [anybody, A woman teaeker elsimed the right fox a woman to direct her owm destiny; The proposal was distiftetfr of a class natara, Did they intend to diserimiaate agatnsfe married women teaehera only, or were all married women, employed to be brought into ojtestio** , 1 , ~ - It was deeded! ttiitttta/awtkn was an attack* oa their >wa and could no,t be, sapportedfby the^federation. vDr. CwreyV^a.i«a3meaV> was carried, I, ■'!, -< „' t tf\