Show BOARD POLICY Is 15 EXPLAINED School Boards Board's Policy on Employment Employment Employ Employ- ment of ot Married l Women as Instructors Instructors Instructors In In- Is Set Forth By BJ Supt Iverson The purpose of this article is not to upset the views of any in individuals individuals individuals in- in regarding the question of whether or not it is proper to hire married lady teachers in a school system This like other debatable questions does not have all the evidence on one side Certain Certain Certain tain people may set forth arguments arguments arguments ments from individual views in inno inno I no uncertain terms yet the case I isn isn't t necessarily settled because of the nature of the issue For several years it has been the trend of opinion pinion of school boards that unmarried lady teachers teach teach- ers should have a preference over the married lady teachers for reasons reasons reasons rea rea- sons best known to the boards B Because e c a u s a e of this the gradual grad grad- gradual gradual ual elimination of the married lady teacher Is taking effect all allover allover allover over our country Whether or not this is right is another question question question ques ques- tion but the fact is that It is being being being be be- ing done Regarding our own state we have reliable data which has been secured within the past two weeks These data set forth the facts facts- as follows with reference c to the married lady teachers in Utah from 39 of the 40 school districts districts dis dis- dis- dis in the state Four districts have no policy regarding married lady teachers Ten districts have no definite policy but favor hiring only unmarried unmarried unmarried un un- un- un married teachers Nine districts hire no married lady teachers except certain ones whose husbands are arc totally unable unable unable un un- un- un able to provide for the family Sixteen districts have havea va a a strict policy against hiring any married lady teachers With reference to our local situation situation situation sit sit- h here re in Duchesne City it appears that from the persons persons persons per per- sons signing the petition asking the Board to hire the two married marri marri- ed lady teachers in question only 72 have children in school or will have next year This is not to infer that the others had no right to sign it but it simply shows the actual number of parents who did sign The total number of parents parents parents par par- having children in the Duchesne Duchesne Du Du- Du- Du chesne City School this year is The Board must deal with the entire county on this issue and for that reason cannot consistently consistent consistent- ly modify its pr present sent policy to the advantage of only one com com- It seems rather difficult for some people to see this point Whether the Board is right or wrong on this particular issue re- re remains re remains mains to be seen The members were duly elected by qualified people people people peo peo- and it is their right to enact legislation which in their opinion Is for the best good of the coun coun- ty It is certain that we are losing some some of our best teachers by this policy but with the field so full of wel qualified experienced persons persons persons per per- sons it is rather certain that the action taken by the Board will not be of serious consequence Several of our patrons take it that this issue Is entirely new in Duchesne County It has been in inthe inthe inthe the balance for some time Our married lady teachers who signed contracts here one ye year r ago were given to understand that it was likely that the Board would not offer them contracts again They thus had one year in which to adjust themselves themselves' to the change Some persons have indicated that the thc Board isn't concerned with the quality of the teachers but that the economic situation alone is the guiding star In the employment question This intimation intimation in intimation in- in Is entirely unfounded By taking the entire county situation situation situation situ situ- into consideration it is the ambition of the Board to secure the best qualified teachers possible possible possible pos pos- sible for the money available The Board can serve the county county county coun coun- ty to the best advantage if given more support and cooperation on issues of this nature after a final decision has been reached Constructive Constructive Constructive Con Con- criticism is always welcome welcome welcome wel wel- come but the destructive variety cannot possibly be of value right now on this particular issue C. C M M. IVERSON |