Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1869-01-28
Fer the Gallipo!is Journal.
SCHOOL MARMS.p

do not wish to appear a professed
advocate of "Woman's Rights. -
Whatever my sentiments may be upor
that subject, | prefer to remain neutra
and let the women fghtout their owl
wars.
If their quarrel is just, thrice are
they armed. Yet, Notwithstanding my
indisposition to appear a votary of thi;
doctrine, | am moved to an endeavol
of defense in behalf of that class o.
noble, self-sacrifcing young women,
euphoniously called ''School Marms.' -
1t is a fact known and appreciated by
all friends and patrons of education,
that the young lady school teachers
of our country have contributed much
by their labors and examples toward
educating and morally disciplining the
minds of youths, notonly of the rising,
but the already grown up generation.
think it 70 eYaggeration to assert
that their accomplishments in this
great work has been fully equal to that
of male teachers, while their pay has
been most shamefully less.
Why this grand piece of injustice is
practiced against a class of our most
deserving females, in this highly chris
tian country, this boasted land of equal
rights, l am totally unable to solve,
unless it is the product of some fnan-
cial scheme for saving money, or re-
suits as a natural consequence of mans
pronenessto evil. A wrong is a wrong
wherever it exists and should be un-
ceasingly tortured by denunciations of
all honest men and women, until the
peoples shame and sense of right will
cause them to expel it as thing evil
and damning. And if there is any
thing in the whole course of human af-
fairs that is more unjust and dishonest
than another, deserving divine condem-
nation, it is the custom of half remu
nerating honest toll.
1t is not right that men should be
overpaid for their services, but it is
right if this man receives a certain
amount for doing a certain piece of
work, that other man or that woman
receive the same wages for doing the
same work with the same skill.
1t is an unchanging, unuterable law
of Heaven, coeval with God himself,
and should be the maxim of all those
who wish his Kingdom Come, to re-
ward every individual according to
deeds done. The fruit is good and
why not cultivate the tree and give to
Miss A forty dollars per month for per-
forming no less work than Mr.. B re-
ceives forty for. If Mr.. B truly mer-
its forty dollars per month and Miss
A. does the same labor, with the same
success, she also earns the same wages
and should receive it, But it has ever
been the case that male teachers have
received higher wages, than female
teachers, whether deserving it or not
And it is far time the people are show
ing little more justice toward female
teachers, in the way of equal pay, for
the sake of being honorable if for moth
ing else. 1t is notorious fact that
when a district is short of funds or
about to become insolvent, they seek
for female teachers to teach their
schools. But when they are in flourish
ing circumstances they employ male
teachers, in view | presume of getting
good teachers. Disbanded and ex-
PEELED school teachers prove that it has
not unfrequently been the lot of some
of these aspiring districts to get most
outrageously bored in their careful Sc
lections.
1t is entirely a mistaken idea that
male teachers are better instructors for
the young than female teachers. Wo-
men are naturally gifted with the quail
ifcations of teaching and training chill
dren, while with men, in most cases, it
is mere trade, or accomplishment
acquired by constant practice. If our
children were brought up more under
the guardianship and instruction of wo-
men they would make better and more
useful citizens. Women are naturally
kind, affectionate, moral, neat and man
nerly, and affection, morality, civility
and good order should ever be the first
and foremost lessons of instruction for
children. "Not in mental but in moral
worth, God excellence placed" The
majority of female teachers are not in
ferior, either, to male teachers, in point
of order and discipline. The most per-
feet, orderly and best regulated schools
have ever known, have been conduct
ed by female teachers, while those of a
contrary character were those governed
specially by male dictation.
Gallia County is notorious for her
many school teachers and superior
hoop-poles. Whether the one is nee
essary consequent of the other | will
not venture to say. Probably no other
county in the State, of the same nim-
Der of population, can boast of more
'"school marms'' and school masters,