American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1865-08-09
educational department
Some Words to Female Teachers.
NUMBER I.

NUMBER l.
The war, about to close has produced
revolutions not only in the political, but
in the educational world as we'll. 1t has
opened schools of the country to female
teachers, that were closed to them before
1t has shifted the performance of the ed
ucational interests from the shoulders of
males to those of females. 1t has in 9TH
er and various ways, by the withdrawal OF
the sterner sex, vacated positions of honor
and trust which by the law of equilbri
um were filed by what was left behind
largely by the female element.
Whether this is to be blessing to the
country-whether it is to be considered
an Incidental benefit or an evil necessarily
imposed on it-remains for time to de-
termine. There may be those among
the most ardent advocates of woman S
rights who will claim cne of the benef-
cent results of the war to be the elevation
and enlargement of woman's sphere, and
through that, an extension of her rights.
However that may be, it is certain that a
vast responsibility is thrown upon her by
the incidents of war, especially in the ed
ucation of children. That that response
bility will remain with her for some time
to come, there can be no doubt. That it
will remain so permanently depends upon
the manner in which it is discharged by
her.
By force of circumstances female teach
ers were employed, last year, where the
people would never before consent to do
so, and thus an opportunity was afforded
to disabuse the popular mind Of that lily
founded prejudice existing in many COM
munities against them; and now, since
the people are obliged to give you a trial
and will give you fair one no doubt, will
you by an earnest effort on your part to
qualify yourself for the work, endeavor
to bring it about, that what they do now
from necessity, they may do hereafter
from choice?
But do not misunderstood me- With
all due Difference to the fair daughters OF
the land, especially of Nkfiin county, l
do not believe that the educational inter-
ests of the county demand or would be
enhanced by the disbanding of the male
forces and enrusting those interests ex-
clusively to the hands of females. That
is a consummation by no means devoutly
to be prayed for There are elements OF
character peculiar to both sexes which
ought to be instilled into the youth OF
our land, and which can only be instilled
by the combined efforts of both. The
sternnesS of one and the mildness of the
other, or in the words of another, the
hardness" of one ahd the "softness OF
the other are both important elements Of
education, and their modified possession
is essential to completeness of charac
ter.
The present female force in our schools
as teachers, [ think, is not too large,
provided those who enter this rich field Of
labor properly appreciate the work and
make the requisite preparations for it.
Is this the case, or are some teaching be.
cause it pays better than washing dishes
&c? l will not press the matter, but
simply state that there is an abundance
of material for the feminine gender in
the market for teachers, more than can
be used at present; and the probability
is that. much of it is yet in rude state
"void and without FORM" needing the
plastic hand Of some good spirit to move
upon it, aud bring it out into beautiful
proportions, if peradveature it contain the
elements Of model teacher.