The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-09-18
WOVEN TEACHERS.
How Thsy Have superseded Men In thO
Public Schools.

/ .rHI NOMEN IEsANhAAAAASs
How They Have superseded Men In the
Publie schools
Woman has won her present position in
the public schools from beginnings as
small as the grain Of mustard seed. In
Barnard's Rhode Island report for 1915, be
SAYS that in all the schools he visited, or
from which returns were received, out OF
Providence, land excepting the primary
departments Of flew central districts he
found only six female teachers, and that,
with the above exceptions, there could not
have been more than twice the number
employed in the whole State. His success
sor who visited the same schools In 1851,
found more than 200 female teachers; but
he thought two-thirds Of those taught by
| men, even then, would have been better
taught and disciplined by women. In
1887 there wero in Massachusetts, 1901 ie'
male teachers, and in 1913 their number
had swelled TO $50. This increase Hor-
ace Mann considered n great reform, be-
lieying women much better adapted to tho
work. In 1870, according to the census,
about IA per cent OF all tho teachers In the
United States were women. In New Eng
\ land tho excess OF women teachers over
men is very great; but in most OF tho Wes-
tern and also in the : Southern States
there is smaller percentage. In Maine
the PROPORTION in summer is about % per
cent, and In winter only s. per cent. In
Vermont nearly 30 per cent OF the teach
ers are women throughout the year, and In
New York about o. per cent. In New
York CITY more than 90 per cent OF the
teachers arc women, and In other large cit
| ies the preponderance OF women over men
Is very great. No doubt the economy OF
employing women as teachers goes lar 10
explain their rapid increase, but their wa
ges as well rs their numbers have also
steadily increased. It is recorded that Pol
~ Hovey, one OF the first femalo teachers
in Maine, was paid, in 1902, u 90 per week.
In Iowa, at one time, two women
taught for a 20 month, though,
the average salary OF women teachers in
that State was 81 Oh per month. Even
men were not very literally paid In old
times, for in Waterfowl. Mass, In 1850,
school.master was hired for one year for
$50, and allowed "2 shillingsa head for
keeping the dry.herd." 1t is mentioned
In one OF the Massachusetts, normal school
reports that one OF the young mon gradu-
ates received, when he entered upon his
career, rl3 o month, and "boarded round"
By the way, that old custom OF "boarding
round" is generally supposed to have died
out; but it is still in vogue in many places,
and In ut least one district in Pennsylvania
all the teachers recoiyp $l5 q month and
board in this manner. Who but the vic.
tim himself can describe the miseries OF
''boarding round" In rambling coun-
try villages-of living for week or
month on tea and pic, and then
only exchanging the bill OF fare for
pic and tea; OF sleeping under leaky
roofs, upon pillows which the rains and
SHOWS OF heaven bedew; OF shivering in
breakfast.rooms, where, il drop Of water
fall upon the table.cloth, though tho stove
be in closeproximity, It Is instantly frozen?
And yet the physical discomforts are often
the least OF the homeless teachers trials.
To return to wages, certain male graduates
Of the Bridgewater Normal School, who
began with F25 or $50 month, including
board, now receive $500 ayear, AM, q lew
$4,000; and salaries OF women graduates
have increased in the same proportion. TO
be sure, there Is too ojtpn q lamentable diff
ference between the sexes ~ respect TO
wages, but women, ut least those employ
cd In cities, undoubtedly earn more
than they could obtain ~ other ocGupa-
nations. Probably few clerks or opera
lives earn, rs do 900 teachers in Boston,
SIS 80 every week In the year, including
ton weeks In vacation. In Massachusetts,
the average salary per month Of men for
1875 was sSS 81; OF women, 80 So; In
Maine, men, sS7; women, SIS. In Penn
sylyania, men, 81 OF; women, S4 90, In
Ohio, men, 90; women, 81, In Michigan,
mon, ISL g,i women, .2S 10. But IN some
States, as In Iowa, tho tilie Is becoming
general to pay men and women tlie saine
SALARY for the same grade Of work. In the
city az 81, Louis no distinction IS made be.
tween the sexos In lxlng tho teanhprrs
salaries; and the California Legislature IN
1873 enacted that the female teachers IN
the public schools should In all cases re-
ceiye the same compensation Us men for
like services. A few Of the Southern
States, which employ moro mon than
women, pay the same salary for the same
work to both sexes; and Idaho, Nevada
and Arizona report, tho same custom.
Nevada, which supports but few school;
pays her teachers 800 30 per month; and
In Arizona, where the schools arc all OF q
primary grade, and the larger portion OF
tho children Of Mexican birth, teachers
arc paid from 500 TO l25 per month. OF
late the hard times hays caused q r0duc-
ton in teachers salaries, and this seems
to many unjust, Ono indignant superin-
tendent cries: "Why should retrenchment
begin at teachers salaries whom fashion
LAUGHS at panics?"- Hdrper's Magazine.