The Feilding Star. Oroua & Kiwitea Counties Gazette. Published Daily. THURSDAY, APRIL 1, 1897. THE PAY OF SCHOOL TEACHERS.

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 230, 1 April 1897, Page 2

The Feilding Star. Oroua & Kiwitea Counties Gazette. Published Daily. THURSDAY, APRIL 1, 1897. THE PAY OF SCHOOL TEACHERS.

At the Wellington Education Board yesterday a discussion took place on a resolution passed by the Women's League of Dunedin, demanding equal nay for women. The Chairman hit the blot when he said to comply with

-.'jch a demand they must either reduce the salaries of the men or get an increased grant from the Government. vi application had been made to the atter effect, but they had been told no provision for teachers' salaries i. • >uld be made except from the capitation grant It simply means therefore mar, by acceding to the demand if the Womens' League of Dunedin the female teachers would not have their pay raised to the level of that of the men, but the pay of the men would be lowered to the same level as tir.it of the women. We may say at once that we cordially aa;ree with any i'roposal which, with due regard to efficiency and capacity, will place female teachers on a better footing in respect to their jmy and emoluments, but we would certainly oppose any suggestion to reduce the pay of the men on any pretence whatever. The average pay of male teachers is com paratively small when considered with their great responsibilities, and the arduous and wearying character of the duties they have to perform. In our opinion the cry of " equal pay for equai work " among male acd female tea .-hers is an absurdity. There ie no such thing as equality in school teaching, any more than there is in any other occupation.