The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-07-12
The state Educational Association
and Female Teachers.

The state Educational Association
and Female Teachers.
A resolution was introduced into this
body by Mr.. Pendleton and referred, in
viting ladies engaged in teaching to become
members of the association. We clip
from the Alexandria Gazette their action
thereon:
Mr. Abbot, from The committee questions
and general business, reported back Mr.. Pendle-
TOMS resolution about the admission of ladies in
the following form.
All female teachers of Virginia may be admit
ted to membership in this association, on the
same terms as others, except that they should
participate in the oral discussion of questions
before this body.
Mr. Blackford Immediately attacked the re-
port Its adoption would be the destruction of
the association. would be impossible to keep up
the present most pleasant method of entertain
ment at the annual meeting, as the ladies would
consider the entertainment of other ladies' too
troublesome. He moved to lay the report on the
table, but being appealed to to withdraw his
motion to allow debate; whereupon Mr.. Jenney,
of Uniontown, d. O., rose and replied He had
heard the objection about entertainment
made before outside of the church last night,
from q member; he had inquired extensively
out-of.doors about the matter and had found
that the statement was entirely incorrect He
was opposed to any restriction on the rights of
the ladies, butwouid accept the proposition of
4
DR.. Horner, of Fauquer, attacked the report
nercely the American Medicine association,
having 10000 members, had refused to admit
Women should this association,
Colonel Withers defended the report.
Mr. ]. X. Taylor. OF Ioudoun, warmly advo-
Gated the admission of the ladies.
Mr. Binford argued that as ladies constituted
ninetenths of the teachers of the state, especi-
ally in public schools, they ought to be allowed
TO become memSers AS to their participating
teachers under his charge was to get them to
say anything.
ladies were admitted equally with men to
churches and benevolent institutions why not
here2
General Lilly moved to amend the report by
striking out the proviso.
Colonel Venable defended the report of the
committee; the ladies did not wish to speak ];
they only wished to attend and hear; therefore
aplan should be devised to allow them to attend
at half-fare.
Mr. Blackford insisted upon his views of thi,
matter. The admission of ladies would be {
source of endless trouble
Mr.. Broadus thought there was doub
that ladies would be accommodated wher
ever the association might go; he always
prospected for the best places before hand. ant
the ladies would doubtless do the same If the,
wanted TO attend they would find places.
toa Virginia woman making a public speech
the thought was islander. He moved as
substitute for the report that the railroad au
thorities be requested to pass all ladies attend
ing the sessions of the association at half-fare
Mr.. Blackford said that others than Nir
ginia women were teaching in Virginia. and il
innovations We're begun we should have Verl
difficult questions upon
Professor Joynes and General Lilly warml.
urged the claims of the ladies to admission.
Rev.J. S. Miller and General Smith opposed
with equal warmth the adoption of the report
and at III o'clock, Rev. ii. Phillips of the Viz
ginia female seminary moved to lay The who'll
subject on the table, which was adopted by
vote of 80 to l6.
In reading the above report we canno
help feeling profound contempt for tn
selfish narrowness and excluSiyism whic
the action of the convention, as well as tn
public expression of some of its members
indicate. One of the substantial benefit
of these meetings is the rest and enjoy
ment attendant upon them. The pleasar
journey, the interchange Of views, the neV
acquaintance formed, as we'll as the di'
cussion of graver topics, constitute healtl
full and delightful recreation to the teache
wearied out with long months of faithfl
work. a
What shall we say Of men who wonl
shut out the young women who teach nint
tenths of the schools in Virginia froi
these advantages? How pleasant an e,
perience TO the teachers Of Richmond, f
instance, would the trip to Alexandr
and the opportunities of this meeting ha'
been. The benefits would have cor
back to this city in renewed streng
and added capacity to their work.
We are glad 10 note that Mr.. BnfoI
with his usual good sense, advocated t
admission of ladies'.
The objection urged by one member til
the hospitality of Virginia families won
not be extended to ladies engaged in teac
ing, for such we consider the scope Of N
Blackford's remarks, is hardly complimt
tary TO Virginia hospitality. We do l
believe that women generally are SO pre-
diced against their o,on seq as to exclu
them from hospitable reception. But
it were so, what shall we say Of an assoc
ton Of teachers which shuts out FROM
advantages nine-tenths of the profession
orderto secure free entertainment for the
mainder. We should suppose any II
of spirit would refuse hospitality off
upon such degrading terms. Such br
ought to turn to ashes in every mo
that eats it. The example Of the med
association, quoted by DIR. Horner, afo
no precedent. That association have ne
recognized females as safe or pro