MARRIED TEACHERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 November 1917, Page 3

MARRIED TEACHERS.

EDUCATION BOARD REVIEWS ITS POLICY.., At the last meeting of the Wellington Education Board, Mr. 10. l>. Rishworth founded a serious note in respect to the inroads that war service was making on our teaching staffs throughout the country, and the peril that such a depletion was likely to entail on our educational system". He drew the attention of the board to the fact that teachers were still being sent away, and that many were coming back who would never be able to teach again. He believed that the time had come for them to say that their maximum sacrifice had been made—at least until that time came when they might have to sacrifice everything to win the war. It was unfortunate that the question of education had been belittled by the legislators of the Dominion—it was unfortunate that the sons of pioneers, who had fought so gallantly for educational facilities, shuld have made speeches that were not worthy of the subject or of themselves. It seemed to him that a member might not express what he thought unless he was a member of the Ministry. The policy of belittling education was not only unwise, but it was one that was fraught \yilli great danger. The burden of the taxation for the war would fall upon their children and their children's children, and to bear it they must be given the best facilities for acquiring education. The question was now whether married teachers should be sent to the war. He did not think they should, and begged to move as under:

That this board believes that the calling up for service of all. eligible married teachers is so serious a loss to our educational system that it is now necessary to reconsider the present policy of not appealing for the exemption of teachers, and that the executive of the board be instructed to review all cases anu appeal for exemption when considered essential. Mr. W. Allan seconded the motion. The chairman, in asking whether any .of the other members wished to discuss the motion, said: "It has my hearty and full approval." The motion was unanimously carried.