TEACHING PROFESSION.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5405, 27 March 1929, Page 4

TEACHING PROFESSION.

POSITION OF MARRIED WOMEN.

A WARMLY DEBATED QUESTION.

Shall married women be allowed to teach in’the State; schools; ? has been at times a warmly debated: question in New Zealand (says the Wairarapa News). It is argued that a married woman, having a husband to provide far her, i& unfairly keeping some ether teacher not so. fortunate out of a wage-earning position. On the other hand, it is pointed out that some married teachers, are not only protviding f.or themselves, but disabled or out-of-work husbands as well. It is not easy to discriminate, but some kind of compromise seems to have been arrived at heye. The same subject has been agitating the authorities in some educational districts in England. in Manchester recently the City Council decided that married women shall be allowed to teach, and instructed the; Education Committee to- that effect. The committee is against the employment of married teachers, but has to obey tflie controlling b«ly. To obey and at the same time frustrate the council’s orders, the committee decided that a teacher expecting to be confined shall be absent for five months before confinement, and twelve; mouths afterwards. The majority of the committee called this taking care of mother and child. Others declared that it was a way of circumventing the wishes of the council. The result at least was certain—increased birth control—had the decision been confirmed, but the City Council has stuck to its guns and ordered that six months —three before confinement and three- afterwards —shall be the period) “off duty-” It is said that; there are very few of thetmarried teaclieris of the present (lay w'ho apply for this “time off.”