Husband and Wife May Teach Together

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 871, 15 January 1930, Page 1

Husband and Wife May Teach Together

STRONG PROTESTS MADE EDUCATION BOARD S VIEWS Should the wife of a headmaster of a school be given an appointment in the same institution. at a lower grade than that which she holds? Strong protests against the principle involved were voiced by members of the Education Board today, when the proposed appointment of the wife of the headmaster of a country school, who was the highest graded applicant for a position in the same school, was considered. The school committee objected on the ground that there was so much unemployment in the teaching profession, and that the applicant was married, with three children. “It is most unfair that a woman with three children, whose husband is headmaster of the school, should apply for a position that is lowersalaried than the grade which she holds,” declared Mr. H. S. W. King. “Whether the fact that husband and wife will be teaching together in the same school is going to add to its efficiency, I don’t know,” he continued, “but I have my own opinions.” He emphatically allied himself with the school committee in its protest. “Is the board guided by the chief inspector in making appointments?’ asked Mr. S. B. Sims. “Yes,” replied the chairman, Mr. A. Burns. He pointed out that the chief inspector had carefully considered, the applicants and concluded that, on account of the headmaster’s wife’s higher grading, she must receive the appointment. BOARD HELPLESS

“What happens if the board disagrees with the inspector?” inquired Mr. W. J. Campbell. The Chairman: The board is helpless. The higher-graded applicant roust get the position. “It is a scandalous state of affairs,” declared Mr. Campbell, indignantly. Mr. J. Primrose: I thought there was a law preventing husband and wife teaching' in the same school? “No,” replied the chairman, who added that there was a similar case in another school. When a suggestion was made to the effect that the anomaly should be pointed out to the Education Department, the chairman asserted that the department was helpless because of the regulations. The board had asked for the, amendment of the Act to give the board discretion in appointments of teachers in such cases, but nothing had been done. Mr. Campbell: The sooner we get rid of husband and wife teaching in the sawe school the better. VOICING OF OBJECTIONS After further discussion concerning the effect of directing the department’s attention to the objection to the proposed appointment, the chairman said he did not believe that the regulations could be over-ridden. He believed that the applicant could appeal and still secure the position. “It is very unfair that a teacher of higher grade should secure a lower position, when there are other teachers, not so highly graded, expecting to get tlie job,” asserted Mr. King. Mr. Burns suggested that the applicant should be advised of the board’s and committee’s objection to appointing her to the position, it was possible that she might withdraw in face of this opposition, but if she insisted on having the position the objections should be stated to the department. This course was adopted.