School that had no room for a single lady teacher

A female teacher in modern Britain. In the 18th of 19th century, single female teachers may have struggled to find jobs, while in the early 20th century it was married women who were discriminated against, writes David Paterson. Photograph: Dimitris Legakis/Athena Pictures

It should not be inferred from Peter Baker’s letter (5 July) that married female teachers never taught before 1944. In the 18th and 19th centuries a husband-and-wife teaching team in voluntary schools was quite common as they often occupied married accommodation on the premises. In our neighbouring parish of Chilvers Coton the discrimination in 1820 was against the single lady. Withdrawing an informal offer of a position, Francis Newdegate apologised to Miss Elizabeth Walker because: “My school at present is managed by a man and his wife who occupy the same dwellings and the same chamber and such I think must be my plans in future, as I do not know how to make a comfortable arrangement for a schoolmistress – separated from the schoolmaster.” Discrimination against married female teachers only became the norm in the early 20th century.
David Paterson
Nuneaton, Warwickshire

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