Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1856-03-21
HOWARD.
NJ Read the communication of Equal

/
o. Read the communication of Equal
Compensation which we publish to-day.
The writer talks earnestly and truthfully
on the question. 1t is matter of pub
I lie interest. and we therefore W. leone
contributions on the subject.
CONVERSATION OF FEMALE TEACH
Ess-"WoMEN'S RIGuTs. Il notice in
the report of the State Superintendent
of public Schools, the statement that
! the average wages of female teachers in
this State were 81, 90 per week. while
those of the males. were. S20.57 per
month: the difference being if l figure
Alright Sl2,97 per month in favor Of the
males.
l presume no one will question the
/ fairness or correctness of this statement:
and SO loudly does it speak in relation to
the comparative compensation of male
and female teachers. that | wish to call
particular attention 10 it.
So great is its bearing upon what has
been termed t e"much mootad question
of women's rights so uudeniablc are
its arguments n relation thereto. that it
seems to nc, that the opposers of the
so. ca7 / women movement would do
wolI 10 lcnolish Ids claim. ere they ridi-
cuie and profess to have contempt for its
advocates.
But in order to make fg9rcs that
wont lie. seem little more consistent.
the statement is often made. and not
without some truth perhaps, that males
teach higher grade Of schools than f.
males but grant this, in the instances
that can be brought up to prove its truth.
what do general facts say then? Do
they not say that some males teach a far
inferior grade of schools, than some fe-
males, and yet receive far more wages !:
What are the wages of an experienced
and successful female teacher of our com
mon Schools, compared with those OF a
young student, who makes his first at
tempt at teaching the same School in the
winter, that she taught the previous
simmer: What is the use to ia of
grades here: Besides, if it is fact,
that there are higher grades of Schools, is
it a fact also, that the wages are proper
tened according to grades, and no: ac-
cording to the sex of the teachers:
Do not our common country Schools
have the same branches to be taught.
nearly the same scholars. in number and
capacity, whether taught one season by
female teacher for $500 per week, or
male teacher another season, for $40 or
S25 per month? l would like to be in
formed if have n dc a mistatemen.
here, or exaggerated the case, either way.
4 case occurs to me now, which is
about taking place in this Stae. A Ger
tain district, has engaseia female teach
er, to keep out the remainder of their
School money this spring, not wholly
because her wages are less, and make the
School much longer, quite an item how
ever but because. she last fill taught in
the same district, and actually kept as
good, or better School, than the male
teachers who preceded her-so this
spring, she takes the same School, the
same prospect of Large boys and 9TH
er scholars. teaches the same branches.
boards the same, and receives but $3.50
per week, while the malo teachers men
toned before, received SlS or 30 per
month, and this too, when she setually
did the >aase uork as well or better. and
yet receiving half the amount they re-
ceived. Let those who manifest such
indignat on at the bare mention of .swo-
mems rights and cry out feminine re-
hnement,' ''women's sphere the boun-
DIARIES OF which, they by the way, have
never settled and such we'll worn and
much used expressions, for arguments
against the movement. look this fact in
the face, and tell me that our doctrine of
equal compensation for equal labor has
no claims, on the good sense and justice
of people at large. Let them wonder
too, the fact, that many insist, that WON
EMS physical strength is for less than
mans, and therefore the tax upon it in