MARRIED WOMEN TEACHERS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3914, 5 March 1929, Page 2

MARRIED WOMEN TEACHERS.

Shall married women be allowed to teach in the State schools? has 'been at times a warmly debated question in New Ze'aland (says the Wairarapa News). I't is argued that a married wojinan, having a husband to provide for her, is unfairly keeping some other teacher not so fortunate, out of a wageearning position. On the other /hand, it is pointed out that some married teachers .are not only providing for themselves, hut for disabled or out-of-work husbands as well. It is not easy to discriminate, but some, kind of compromise iscems to have been arrived at here. The same subject has been agitating the authorities in so|me educational districts in England. In Manchester recently the City Council decided that married wotnen shall be allowed to teach, and instructed the Education Goblinit-tee to that effect. The Comlmittee is agbinst the employment of married women as teachers, but has to obey the controlling body. To obey .and at the same time frustrate the Council’s orders, the Education Committee decided that a teacher expecting to be confined shall be absent for five months be-' fore confinement .and twelve months afterwards. The majority of the Committee called this taking care of mother and child. Others de-' dared that it wa ,sa 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 afterguards shall be the period “off duty.” It is said that there are very few of the married teachers of the present day who apply for this “time off.”