Genealogy Chat

Betty,

Thanks. I read a similar thing.

Check the bottom paragraph if you want to read the whole thing this is the addy!!
http://lynnifer77.tripod.com/archive.htm


Although the basic concept of teaching, or educating students, has remained a constant over time, the details and events surrounding teaching have changed considerably. What is particularly fascinating is the individual examination of each teacher’s unique perspective and interpretation of events which link fact and experience to come together and form a whole. I will attempt to place the experiences of teachers from the 1900s to 1940s in context with my interviewee’s personal experiences from the 1950s to today and illustrate the changes that have occurred over the course of the century.

The growth of technology has vastly changed since the early 1900s. Teaching tools were limited in the first half of the century, offering mainly the use of blackboards and chalk slates (Stevens, 2001). By the middle of the twentieth century, technology was becoming more common. Mary Lou O’Reilly recalled significant changes in technology over her career. When she first began teaching in 1969, chart paper, notebooks, film projectors and transparencies were used in addition to blackboards with the gradual incorporation calculators, television and VCRs and most recently computers into the classroom. These elements of technology have all contributed to, and improved upon, the overall learning experience for students (O’Reilly, 2006).

Gender and issues surrounding equality amongst male and female teachers have also made sweeping changes since the turn of the twentieth century. Teachers in the early 1900s were predominantly female and nearly all management positions were filled by men (Cavanagh, 2005). By the 1950s, Canada was finally making strides towards equality by abolishing the marriage ban (Wright, 1994/1995). Mary Lou recalled how quickly men were promoted to principal positions with only one year teaching experience in the late 1960s and early 1970s (O’Reilly, 2006). Through various legislative and social changes, today, more and more women are seen in principal positions and more men are choosing teaching as their profession of choice (Reynolds, 1995). Though the road was long and not without struggle, the twentieth century proved successful near the latter part in reaching equality for teachers.

I've just been searching the Education Acts from that era but no mention of female teachers.

Hi louise,

I think after the Suffragettes and the 1914 First World War changed all this, woman worked as the men were away fighting in the war.

Betty

Betty,

Many thanks for that.

Hi Louise,

I had a relative who was a teacher before she married but after she married she was no longer able to keep her job as it then had to be given either to a single female or a married man. This was in England.

Betty

This question was posed on another forum that I help with occasionally

"Can anyone tell me if women were allowed to teach in the UK after they married at the beginning of the 1900s? I am a teacher and seem to recall a legislation that prevented a married woman from teaching.
Also were there different laws for Scotland?"

Thanks,

Louise