Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-10-05

The New York Board of Education has
under consideration the subject OF the en-
ployment Of married women as teachers In
The public schools, and the discussion has
extended to the press OF that city, who Are
arguing the question pro and con with no
little animation. 1t seems there are COM
parauvely few married women In the schools
as teachers, but In the opinion of some OF
the School Board the number is increasing
too rapidly, and the matter Is mp for consid-
GRAFTON under resolution OF enquiry. The
objections urged to having married women
"a teachers are based mainly upon the in
conveniences arising from the maternal
duties OF the married teachers. It was esti-
mated by Commissioner Fuller, the mover
OF the resolution, that q married teacher
might be reasonably expected to be absent
from her school about three months In the
year, and subsequent maternal duties would
involve serious Inconvenience In the class
rooms. He held, also, that the tendency
would be TO have the schools filled with
married women. This he maintained would
be unjust to the numbers of young ladies
constantly fitting themselves for the posi-
ton OF teacher, and would also be detri-
mental TO the working OF the connon-sohCo
system. He believed that 2 young lady
teacher should marry Come one able to sup
port her, or not znarry At all. 1t was also
argued that tbs married teacher would be
more irritable and liable to innrmities OF
temper thsl the spinster.
On the other side, Commissions fraud
held mat while some inconveniences might
ef1se in q school through the employment of
married teachers, there were none that the
trustees could not very easily provide for,
and protect the discipline of the schools. He
was Of the opinion, however, that there were
altogether too many female teachers; there
being 2y500 In the schools, while there were
only 800 male teachers. The discipline I'm the
schools taught by the married women WAS
excellent, and he was not aware that the
slightest Inconvenience had ever occurred In
the schools from their being married. 1t was
very wrong, In his opinion, to make young
indies understand that II they become teach
ers they therefore must abandon all thought
of marriage. Under ordinary circumstances
young lsaies who get married are not COM
PEELED to carr their own living, and Ii Ii only
In very rare cases in which, after marriage,
the lady teachers mad It necessary to con-
tinue In the profession. It would be q great
hardship to require the yoGug women to
spend long time In severe study to at them
selves to be teachers, and then TO debar them
Just when their proficiency Is at its best,
from continuing to teach merely because
they DO as all other young women do. 1t
seemed TO him that the whole matter should
be allowed 10 remain as at present, and cases
should be decided upon individually as they
arise.
This IL about the conclusion reached by
our school authorities when the same cues
ton came up some years ago. 1t was found
that rule excluding married women as
teachers would deprive the schools of some
OF the most useful and successful teachers
Usually, however, female teachers on mar
rying have LEFT the schools, and the married
teachers have been for the most part of mid
die age, having no pressing home duties to
interfere with their duties In the school
room. 30 far as the experience OF our schools
goes IL Ii Q mistake, we believe, to suppose
that young unmarried women are more
equable In temper than the married teachers.
In fact, 1t has proved just the other way. As
might naturally be supposed, the experience
of the mother In the management OF children
has proved the best education to qualify the
teacher to train the young with mild and
sympathetic, but nrm and steady rule. And
In the physical training and maternal care
for the health Of the little ones In her charge,
the mother teacher, 1t must be conceded, L.
the superior Of the spinster- teacher.