The New York herald., 1876-10-07
MARRIED FEMALE TEACHERS.

WEST Il STERN FOR DISCIPLINE AND FAIR
PLAY.
The question tho exclusion OF married ladies' as
teachers in the public schools has occasioned much
controversy during the past few days Commissioner
Fuer's resolution asking for a consideration of the
subject by the Board of Education has brought ee-
phant on the shoulders Of the Commissioners.
There Is much TO be said on one side and the
other Of the point At issue. and tho married
ladies' have stanch friends lighting thsir battle though
their case has many and serious arguments against
shem The points OF dispute very few aud
may be readily understood. The objection most
strongly urged that ladies' who have children
cannot attend to their domestic duties and to tho
school besides, and the inconveniences which attach
to the retention OF married teachers said DO
apparent in some OF tho schools where married
ladies have been teachers. Those who espouso tho
cause Of tho married ladies say that experience has
shown that married teachers discharge their duties
fully woll as unmarried teachers, and the incon-
vcnencos referred OF little or no account what
ever, as experience has shown. There have been
they say a lew occasions when something occurred
that mAeht bo considered Objectionable school
ROOM but these tho exception and should be
considered IN the question.
LEWIS VIEWS.
: HERALD reporter yesterday called acting Mayor
Lewis At the Mayors Office TO get his the
subject. Mr. Lewis was formerly member OF the
Board OF Education for some fouor i've years. and is
thoroughly familiar with the school systom OF the
city. He vas asked especially about the feeling in the
Board, when he was n member, ON the question OF
married teachers, and he replied: -
'.During my time MEMBER Of the Board of Educa-
ton never heard The question brought up Tor discus.
sion among the members, either formally IN meeting
or informally among themselves. For my own part,
always considered The question to be which should
be dealt with as the occasion required by the local
school trustees These gentlemen would be to be
especially interested in the schools in which their
children were being educated, and would be likely 70
h0 n.rt
teachers married or single. II always seemed 10 mo
that whatever apparent objection might be made by
those seeking 10 object always satisfactorily met
by tho good sense and delcacy of tho lady teachers
themselvesn
non-exclusion OF married ladies teachers? ?n
II decidedly lavor the non-excuson of married
ladies' had not believed that the subject could have
at all come up tor discussion, and was somewhat
priscd 10 see the articles IN the HERALD showing the
drift OF the new sentiment on the subject One would
imagine in hearing the talk people indulge in in
regard 10 this matter that tho position OF . school
teacher IS a snccure Now l know, and every body
ought 10 know that his not SO. Schsoi leaching
is laborioos life, and II ought to be especially
borne Ia mind that these ladies' in nearly
every instance have devoted all their earlier years
preparation to become school teachers, and they 1T
Tor other business. They could not well attend to
other work Their minds and habits trained Tor
school teaching and that only Now no one, think,
ought to be SO foolish as to imagine that young lady
when she marries Will not be only anxious get
rid Of the drudgery OF teaching school Surely she
mas not been teaching for the love OF teaching, but
support herself believe, too, that young lady
teachers are able to exercise the
amount Of discrimination in getting q hus-
band as other yoang ladies' do, and that
1t Is only fair TO presume that they marry they
will be supported by their husbands. Tho facts prove
this There are between 600 and 600 female teach
in tho CITY, and out oi that there only
think, couple Of dozen fomaie teachers who are
married. DO not suppose that the female teachers
when once they got u position under the Boara re-
main there for lie. They get married the same
other young women do' although one would think
wanted to be welded 10 teaching well
TO husbands, which is contrary TO CON-
all the young lady teachers who got married only
too glad to give up teaching, and they did so. am
aware that a lew cases have occurred which were un
fortunate, ana know Of or two Instances when IL
would have been absolutely cruel to deprive the lady
OF her place as teacher morcly because she had got
married And now you come just 10 the point Ii in
the majority OF these young ladies get husbands
VINO able 10 support thsm aud who would allow
them continue work In the Schools why cgislate
the unfortunate lew out OF alk chsnce to mako
living? l believe Il has ~6SeRs said that, the
Board Is anxious, as II were TO give warning to
young men that II they marry school teachers they
must know beforehand that there Is chance OF
getting the young ladies' to support them. That is
very sentimental 1t supposcs the young men TO be
frauds and the young women 10 be FOOLS believe
letting well enough alone. You cannot touch upon
this subject to make any general law without dong
gross Injustice The particular that might arise
would be sure to require particular treatment mat
ter how you would set about making con-
tingent rules The difficulty requires that there
should bo some supervisory authority and think the
local Board OF Trustees each ward the proper per.
SONS TO know ABOUT WnAt Oukht 10 Dc done. IL Is
well known iact that the schools presided over by
married teachers some oil the ably conducted
the city. In cases where schools would be neg ccted
In consequences oil marriage the same rules would apply
which are enforced when there - neglect from any
other That rule IL seems to me, is all that
needed Legislation by the Board OF Education this
subject would, In my opinion, do no good, and would
TO point rather IN the direction OF dong harm"
1T has been SAID there is danger that the schools
might get all filled win married lady teachers, and
that thcro would be some trouble IN getting them outy
IL have faith in the young men or this city
room for new teachers think 1t is the wrong way to
go about It, AS SAID already the facts show that
without any restriction NJ all the number Of married
teachers is Inconsderablc.n
VIEWS or COMMISSIONER WEST.
Commissioner West gentleman who has been tor
number oil years identified with The common school IN
forests OF the city, and who is member OF tho Com
nttee Bylaws OF sne Board OF Education, was yes
,srday asked ior his views He said
.sIhs question very difficult 10 settle with justice
every There doubt that the
which complained of should not be allowed to
IN the schools In my Judgment married lady, per-
forming ner duties as a mother, should not be a
teacher; but not opposed to the employmon of
married LADIES' as teachers IN the schools, except in
those cases whore plainly the lady should be
at her homo instead of IN the schoolroom.
Some Of tho best schools have pre-
SIDED by married ladies. The point I
wish TO make is this, that the teacher should
not have any encumbranccs A married lady, without
young children Is just as lit to be school teacher as
single lady. But where to draw the line In leg sat-
ing the subject in the Board difficult thing
determine. While married ladies' should not bc OK
cuded AZ teachers, married ladies' under certain
ditions ought 10 bc and hence there must be- lett a
discretionary power in some authority TO apply rule
that SO dictate. Ii Is to be
presumed for moment that any one wants
TO condemn marriage; the object sought for
IL to have the marriage adaptable 10 our schools;
10 accept II where we can, and to exclude II whore
plainly II interfcres with the most efficient teaching
II is delicate subject 10 treat and requires serious
consideration before reaching nnai conclusion about
L. OF course the ladies at present employed in the
schools would not be intcrercd with any
stancea Whatever rule may 10 determined upon will
have reference only 10 IN. uure. do not participate
In any mawkish sentiment IN regard 10 this matter
but am clearly OF opinion thai order merely 10
give cmpoyment TO married teachers the business OF
the school should not be interrupted. | share the
views Of those who believe that at certain times mar
rlcd ladies' cannot devote their minds IN the school
room TO tho best interests of the children, ana IL Is
only ia like this that would At NIL prevent a
married teacher from holding position under tho
l3oard. You will remember that when y teacher gets
excused from attending school the Board has got To
pay TOR substitute, two salaries being, therefore, paid
Tor the position "