The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1876-11-10
MARRIED WOMEN AS TEACHERS.

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We quote:
The public school circles in this city agi-
tated by the question, "Shall married women
be employed as teachers ?" At first view, it
seems to be question with only one side to it,
and that married women are just as suitable
teachers as married men. 1t may be so. But
the objectors are at no loss TO find grave argu-
ments against their employment, and these
( are urged with so much feeling and force that |
the subject has become exciting. As the natu-
raj right of married women to such positions
is obvious, it is necessary only to state some of
the objections.
l. Married women have husbands whose duty |
it is TO support them; their employment as
teachers deprives dependent single women of
the situations for which they have been quail |
fed in the Normal Schools.
2. Married women are necessarily often un-
able to discharge their duties at school. the
higher law of maternity compelling them to
be at home.
B. The order of nature is that women should,
on assuming the marriage relation, devote
themselves to domestic and social cares, and
not 10 public avocations which look to the sup
port of the husband and children.
The old argument, that marriage is
the end and aim of woman's existence,
and that consumated, she should sink
whatever individuality she may have
possessed and become thereafter for aye
dependent upon her husbands bounty,
is, we presume, the theory upon which
the agitation referred to is based. The
writer goes on to say that "a husband is
bound to support his wife," yet we are
: sure that if this is so his bonds are in
e very many instances forfeited and he
himself is a perjurer. Every body who
has given the matter even slight atten-
tion knows that among the working
? classes nine-tenths ofthe married women
work hard and constantly for the priv
: ilege of being Supported" and this
2 support comes not as a right, earned by
Il faithful performance of marital duties,
e nor yet as earnings to which the woman
3 partner to the matrimonial contract is
S Justly entitled. Thousands there are
;, who, in addition to the daily round of
: unpaid duties that they perform, con-
d trive and work at this and that to gain
d a few dollars, or even cents, that they
IS may spend without having first to beg
II for it. Some whom we have personally
u known have achieved little independ-
, ence and very much enjoyed it, by
a spending every spare moment at great
l. unwieldy loom, wherein, by their skill,
'e perseverance, and labor, web of sub
= stantial rag carpet grew; others have
10 spent the long winter evenings knitting
lie socks for sale after their supporters were
'e asleep and dreaming of the fine sums
W realized in the sale of wheat, which the
IL pauper partner had toiled early and late
v through fierce August heats to hell
y place in market; some have saved eggs
III and raised chickens and made buttel
u and dried fruit Though the proceeds o
these have usually gone to pay grocer
bills or been added to the wallet, which
the woman never dares touch withou
es first obtaining the supporters consent)
II some have made dainty marvels il
e. crochet and sight-destrOying tatting ant
at embroidery and sold it for pittanc
ST. toward eking out their support. Not
few have taken in washing and sewini
IT. to obtain means to replenish their purse
as and renovate their dilapidated ward
to robes. And as if such pitiful shiftin
to and toilsome application were nc
enough, each and every one of thes
lid have met and constantly contended wit
ny the objection set forth in the "agita
elr ton" referred to above, always clinche
'ut with the combined declaration an
nd question: "She has a husband; VIII
m. don't he support her?" Say, rathe
M why isn't she as much as he entitled
es- support from the common fund
eat Regarding the objections mentione
TX. against the employment of marie
10 women as teachers in the public school
lly we would say that nothing could
~ more absurd than to employ or reje
TO teachers upon this condition. 1t is pr
en- sumable, at least, that married wome
ma who are bearing and rearing childre
sm will not of their own accord see
ca employment outside of their home
re- If they are compelled to bear the man
to curse, 'In the sweat of thy face" et(
Gus in addition 10 their own, they certain
tbs have difficulties and hardships enoug
in to encounter, without being opposed
ter essays mythical in theory and imposs
18th BILE in practice, written in some ell
gantly furnished Office by lily-fnger
eat divine or egotistical editor, relative
he'd "woman's sphere" and exhorting all
:, it discourage the employment of marri
Gus women" a married WonlaR has t
,me same right to seek and obtain and !
eju- ceive pay for work that married M
ON, has. Whether her private affairs W
Iuy, permit her to do the work is anoth
of matter, one of which she is the best,
will not the only judge, and the details
GIN which were doubtless canvassed a
settled before application for the el
ployment was made.