The New York herald., 1876-10-09
Further Views Of Public Personages
on the Question.
WHAT THE BOARD WILL DO
Opinions Of Commissioner Ilowd, Joseph Sc.
ligman and Others.
THE POPULAR VERDICT.

deeply Interested in education matters approach this
subject OF married female teachers in the schools
Evidently very few want to say word against tho
married condition of lie; there is always encour-
aging word in favor of the married ladies' though
1t is qualified atterwArd But when the reporter puts
the straight question 10 whomscever Is being con-
versed with he invariably dnds a hestating kind Of
reply, which might be taken TO mean that
the matter does look bad for tho married ladies'
in this case. but that nobody wants to
say SO. In conversation with a gentleman
Interested in education matters remark was made
to tho reporter yesterday that Americans decd-
edly delicate their notions about appearance
public OF married women when in a certain condition,
and he said he thought this idea had much to do with
the strong sentiment which seemed to have been
aroused against the appearance Of married women In
schools when in noticeably delicate health This gen.
tleman continued to say that IN Paris, for instance,
and other tai cities Europe, such notion
this prevailed, but that 1t existed in community
beyond a doubt He also stated that one
reason why there was much opposition
married teachers In the schools was that married
generally had the best places, and the proba
bility OF their resignng them was very remote Hence
vacancies these schools would DO few. aud the
probably would be, If this extended to any great
tent that the ambition desirable in young lady
students would be considerably diminished If not en-
trely removed.
WHAT hoard WILL DO.
As this question continues to be agated tho chances
Of definite action by tho Board OF Education grow
ing remote. Facts and arguments arc cropping
up both sides, which bewildering to the
Commissioners 1t is beginning to be felt
that serious injustice might from tho adoption OF
the advocated by either OF the extreme sides
the question. Meanwhile public sentiment seems to
be drifting in favor OF married teachers while those
gentlemen who beyond all doubt greatly interested
the schools growing serious the agita-
ton some OF them express openly their opinion
that 1t unfortunate ever to provoke public
trovsrsy in regard to the subject by adopting
the resolution presented at recent meeting
OF the Board So far can be cleaned from tho views
OF the Commissioners the resolution referred to will
not be acted upon with haste, and the good sense and
calm judgment Of the Board will be developed in solv-
ing the difficulty There Is also chance that tho sub
ject will be allowed TO drop altogether and the Board
would then continue deal with particular cases as
they might arise accordance with the broader views
which hitherto prevailed.
MR.. j. sELGMAN's VIEWS.
Mr. Joseph Scligman the banker in Wall street. near
Exchange place, was a School Commissioner last
year, but at present is not in tho Board. Upon
being asked by a HERALD reporter his opinion as
to the proprcty OF tho Commissioners dispens-
ing with married In the schools as
teachers he stated that he hnd not given tho
subject much thought as the manifest I'm
portance of the matter demanded but he thought II a
very severe thing TO dismiss women already employed
In schools because of their being married, well
pernicous to have young, single women understand
when they took tho situation OF teacher they de-
barred from marriage II was grave question alto
gether and Mr.. Seigman had determined TO have a
talk on the matter with some Of the Comm ssioners
hat nnrtcn thay hat
gained 10 make II necessary 10 agtate the subject OF
change
Exchange place, told the writer that no still
School Commissioner. and since the discussion had
he had given the subject some attention, but
he was not willing, until he converscd with some OF
his co-Commissioners, 10 express himself moro than
generally ON the subject HIS present opinion how
ever that the matter had better not be ngtaed at
a-it should be left statu quo II teacher now in
the OF the Board chose get married 1t
should be lett to the Commissioners to her retcn-
non or discharge. matter In TACT, OF individual Mt
ness or utility. The whole subject was in the hands Of
a committee, and when their report made the
question would receive his best attention.
Mr. J. d. vcrmiye Is President OF the Merchants
given the mooed question yet the consid-
It seems to have commanded from the public.
When the matter up in the Board II referred
to the Ccmms,ee on Bylaws, and hts opinion
they wouId take their time upon II and not report
very soon lie would prefer not expressing himself
further without convcrsing with his coadju.ors.
Mr. william H. Nelson, President OF the Hannibal
and st. Joseph Railroad Company, whose Office
Broadway, below Wall street, formerly President
OF the Board OF School Commissioners and has been
connected with educational matters or the last twenty
years Ho stated that no thought tho whole agitation
OF the married woman question was ridiculous farce,
parurient monies ridicuius mas. Mr. Woods remarks
In reference to married women teachers as reported
the newspapers, wero certainly open 10 much crit
icism. During bis Mr. Neisonsl presidency OF tho
Board. ana taking all his experience OF school mat
ters, he able 10 say that no class OF ladies
more capable than tho married ones. and each
should be judged on It's individual morits. Ho
satisfied that no improperly would be COM
mittcd by married ladies IN the schoolroom
that would not be committed at home, and as for judg
mcnt and patience with litlc children certainly the
married women werc superior, because their expert
cncc In motherhood made them tender and kind n
women are not to be permitted TO teach IN schools
why may they not be driven out Of other proessons
Mrs D. Jacoby, married lady Of considerable inteIli-
gencc and graduate OF the Twelfth street school, s
practising her profession with profit
A former school trustee who was visited stated that
he thought the idea of excluding married women from
teaching in schools was prcpostcrous in the highest
degree As for himself he believed that 10 many ap-
pointmonts in the public schools "kissng went by
favor" and that selections were made Tor improper
reasons in very many cases His experience was that
married women made the host OF teachers They werc
patient and just While the young single teachers
would be writing or reading the married ladies' would
be faithfully attending to the instruction oi their
charges.
OPINIONS COMMISSIONER powp.
Commissioner Dowd called at his Office in
Wall street. and he stated his views briefly He said
that he clearly OF opinion that teachers in state
OF pregnancy nt perform their duties and
ii was unjust both to them aud the schools to alo
them TO do No doubt married teachers In that
condition would do ali they could to attend school as
long possible but ho believed that upon this matter
there ought 10 be decisive action. Neither mentally
nor physically wcro such ladies qualified TO teach. lie
also objected to mothers who were teachers nursing
their infants during school hours, ana OF this
should be necessarily sanctioned were u to become
a established rule that The female teachers ~ our
schools might get married and continue TO
retain their positions under the Board. lie was not In
favor OF !ogislatng now 80 as TO affect tho married
ladies who held POSITIONS but he thought that on tns
important matter the Board OF Educaton should have
definite principle TO act upon; that there ought
TO DO line drawn somewhere beyond which teachers
could not CO. He believed that II this wcro done il
would then be easy for the local trustees decide in
particular cases There could be objection to re-
tanning tho married teachers who encountered
with all the Incidental cares of hfe and he
presumed the action Of the Board would not retro
speciivc. But ne believed tho simplest rule would be
70 exclude In the future all lady teachers who got
red In other words to have understood that
young lady teacher got married she should look to
her husband for support, and not that both should
lmAgine thnt they Mere under any circumstances