The Wilmingtonian., 1888-06-30
DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND

why New York School AIa'ans Receive
Much Less for the Same Work than
Male Teachers Tho Irregularity Less
Marked in Brooklyn.
The average New York public school
maam cannot understandwhy the differ
ence should be so wide between the pay OF
the 3,10O women of her profession in the
citynn that of the 222 men Ifshe should
have the good fortune to be appointed
assistant to grammar school Principal
she may work alongside one or two male
assistants whose days routine is almost
identical with her own, of whom no
higher attainmeuts are required, and on
whom no heavierrespOnsibil but
who, in virtue of masculinity pure and
simple, draw salaries of not less than
81 600 where hers is 5000, Seven hun.
dred and twenty dollars is the lowest sal
airy paid any man connected with the
schools for the first years work. while
the woman begins ii $lOS. If she be-
comes Lndy Principal Of The girls de-
partmeut Of n grammar ychool she will
earn Sl,I 0, while the male Principal of
the boys department. earns 80. 500 When
! fourteen years service have given her
! maximum pay for Lady Principal she
| will he in receipt Of S 500 to his 81, 600.
Their positions are practically the same.
| Her classes are examined with entire in-
dependence Of his She is appointed like
him, lly the School Commissioners di,
rectly instead Of by the District Trustees
like the teachers of lower grades, but
there is a yiiHl distinction in the pay.
The schoo! system is mn immense
machine whose revolutions cannot be
slowed, and the pupils are So much ma
tcrial for whose rapid and accurate
grinding She il responsible. Her salary
in New York depends in part on tine
average attendance She is able TO COM
mnnd, hence She must lie bright, interest
ing and entertaining Her position may
depend on her scholars getting good
marks, hence they must be coached in the
lines Of thought the examiners will fol-
low and rushed along the broad normal
track regardles, Of any detour, however
useful or practical The pace has been
set for the race from Primary to Gram.
mar aud from GrammartO 20 NormalS School,
md her children, 10 matter how many
slow ones or dun ones may come to her,
must not be left behind They must be
jumped to the top no matter how their
brains reel when they get there. She has
written papers 10 correct in the evening
She has studying TO do to Keep abreast OF
the times, She ls a busy woman every
thought oC her
In Brooklyn the wages uf woman teach
ers run lower and rise higher than il
, New York. A Brooklyn girl who WELD.
the birch viii receive for il $anO for he,
first year in primary grade II She is {
graduate of the city Training School sb,
will receive $500 If the day ever dawn.
when She finds hersclrthc head Of a de
| partmcnt with six years expert nee shI
will he entitled To s. 80 As Principal o.
Il branch primary school after thre,
years worN She may earn 81 500. Or a.
Principal Of an intermediate school sh,
! may come into 5000 In these PRINCIPAL
ship salaries Brooklyn makes no discrim
ination between men and women. All
positions are open TO women and If filled
by them are equally rewarded. But tn,
hi.her the grade of the school the more
difficult it is for woman to get a place
As soon us the plum becomes worth pick
ing there is a scramble for it among tn,
men. Women are nOminully eligible tC
hold Prlncipaships of grammar schools
and receive 81 600 therefor, but no woman
isat present actually installed in such d
place The Central School in BROOKLYN
which is the summit of the school systen
and a High School in grade EMPLOYS IN
its gi~ls' department women who receiy,
ea!Rries OF from 81 ,2Qs ~ g 800