MARRIED WOMEN TEACHERS

Hokitika Guardian, 30 January 1931, Page 3

MARRIED WOMEN TEACHERS

EDUCATION BOARD’S DECISION. ' WELLINGTON, January 28. After fa ; long discussion, marked by .v-oinie; definite differences of opinion the Wellington Education. Board at its meeting; to-clay passed a resolution, by eight .yqtes to six, that owing to the large • number of teachers, particularly single women, who are out of employment, 'the Board joined with the Auckland, .-.(Otago, and Canterbury Boards in strongly protesting to the Department against the continued employment of married teachers, in cases where the circumstances are such as to warrant ntf Afeeessijty of doing so. Some members said the hoard should concern itself with efficiency. They considered that enquiries .into married

wofiien teachers’ financial circumstances before an appointment was not justified. Other members held that a teacher should give a declaration that she was dependent, upon teaching for a livelihood before taking an appointment. Tjie senior inspector, Dr Mcllwraith, tHought a small section of the community should pot be singled out. It might be that a. girl with a father earning £2O a week would obtain a job, while a woman with a husband earning £5 a week might he debarred. He thought it better to reduce some big single salaries rather than cut out one of the small double salaries. Another member held that many women were evading their family responsibilities as the result of employment. •