WOMEN TEACHERS

Southland Times, Issue 18855, 22 June 1920, Page 6

WOMEN TEACHERS

DEPUTATION TO THE MINISTER. STAFFING AND PROMOTION. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, June 21. The claims of women teachers to better consideration in the staffing of schools were advanced by a deputation from the Women Teachers’ Federation which waited on the Minister of Education (Mr Parr) today. Miss Goad, the president asked that an opportunity should be given to a woman teacher to control girls in the upper classes of primary schools, and that a senior mistress for the upper school should always be on the staff of large schools, with rank and salary equal to that of an infant mistress. At present the only high position open to women was that of infant mistress. It was urged that as all women were not suited for this work there ought to be positions of equal rank and pay open to them in the upper schools. It was the opinion of the association that girßfrom twelve to eighteen years of age ought to be taught by women. Another request was that the Government should introduce legislation to regulate the employment of school children out of school hours at such work as selling papers and delivering milk. Generally as to salaries she asked for consideration for women teachers. Much was said of the need of attracting men to the profession, but the profession had need also of women, and it was a fact that the best girls were not now entering the teaching profession. Miss Finlayson and Miss Edwards both urged the need for more generous stalling and more efficient teaching in the infant department of schools. The Minister said that he fully agreed with most of the representations made to him. He thought that the plea for the appointment of a senior mistress to take charge of the girls in the upper (classes was a perfectly reasonable one. He would consult with the Department as to whether this could be done. With regard to the teaching of sex hygiene, also referred to by the deputation, he was quite in accord with them that it would be unwise to have this matter taught in schools by outsiders, or even by teachers themselves. He approved of the suggestion that the Department might provide for instruction by sending pamphlets to parents. The subject could be taught effectively only in the home. As to the suggestion for the regulation of hours of work of children of tender years, it would be sufficient for him lo say that he was asking the Government to introduce some legislation this session dealing with this matter. He recognised that the employment of children might be due to economic necessity on the part of the parents, but this economic necessity must be provided for in some other way. Children must not be exploited. He hoped to he able to get the law amended. The amendment might not be drastic, but he hoped it would be sufficient to stop the evils of child labour. 'I he suggestion as to the better stalling of the infant departments of big schools seemed o him quite fair. He cotdd see no logical reason for the difference between staffing .provided for separate infant schools and the staff for an equal number of children in the. infant departments of big schools.