The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1872-12-27
WOMEN PROTECTED.

1t is well known that in this as we'll
as other cities the women teachers in
the public schools have heretofore been
paid just about one-half the compensa-
tion for their services that the men
teachers received, who, in many in
stances performed less labor than was
imposed upon the protected(?) women in
the same public employ.
Now, we suppose the public is looking
for these presents to proclaim the glad
tidings that the men teachers, seeing
the injustice OF this invidious distinction
in regard to the sex rather than the
brains of woman, have circulated a peti-
ton among the taxpayers and sue
ceeded in getting the directors to raise
the women's salaries little above their
own, that mans protective idea might
thus be practically illustrated. Or per-
haps the gentle reader is expecting us
to chronicle the glorious news that the
noble men, knowing woman's physical
inferiority, and their own chivalrOus
regard for her comfort, have decided to
do woman's work in the schools in the
future and that, at the same time they
intend to reduce their theory to practice
by hereafter supporting the dependent(?l
creatures. Gentle reader, you may
grow savage now, for We have nothing
of the kind to tell. The plain truth is,
that the five men teachers recently cir
culated among the taxpayers petition
to get their own salaries-already twice
as large as those of the wOmen-raised
$500 each. This petition has been
granted by the generous Board, and the
women now receive about One-third in
stead of one-half of the remuneration
enjoyed by their colleagues in the same
vocation. Professor King, of the NORTH
Grammar School, now receives :, ,S0C
per annum; Prof. Williamson, of the
Central School, the same; Prof. John
son, of the High School, which schoo
would have passed into Oblivion las
spring but for the vigilance of the New
NORTHWEST, receives a salary of $1,000
Prof. Pratt, of the South Grammar
School, gets 81 l,S00; and Mr.. Meacham
assistant in the High School, under th,
supervision OF a lady, who is paid $50
(the highest price for woman's serviee)
gets $500, although he is a young
man, inexperienced as n teacher, anC
with no family to support-the old ex
euse for giving men superior wages
while several of the women teacher
have dependent families.
Now, good women of Portland, why
is this? Don't you see that man pos
sesses power, pecuniary and political, t.
enable him to make and control his owl
circumstances power which is, an,
ever will be, beyond your grasp, unit
you, like him, shall have the inhuenc
/. of the ballot? We used to pity womel
who boasted that they "wanted no NOR
rights" but We have outgrown tn
sentiment of pity now, and confess tina
we're ashamed of them. Such selfish
ness is culpable, such ignorance
inexcusable. We learn that the won
en- teachers, several of whom hav
but just opened their eyes to the nece:
sity Of the Woman Movement, are no'
circulating petition, praying the Boar
to raise their salaries. They may sue
ceed in securing half the pay now II
ceived by the men, but they will get n
more than half until they become rOte5.
and consequently of some political in
pOrtance among office-holders an
offiee-seekers. Women of Portland
don't you see?