Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-12-11


involved the question of the marriage of female
school teachers, and the decision reached may
be said to have a bearing on one phase at
least of the much debated problem of whether
marriage is a failure. The discussion was
based upon a report from the committee on
high and normal schools presented by Rev. Mr.
Grimke. The report was as follows:
Recommended that c. D. Wilder-Harris and
8. ]. Cox-Peters, who are now married, be
dropped, to take effect December 81, 1889.
Promote l. Cook from seventh grade to posi-
ton of training teacher in the normal school of
the seventh and eighth divisions, at salary
of S9t per annum, vice G.. ID. Wilder-Harris,
dropped. to take effect January l, 1880. Promote
A. Taylor from fourth grade to position of
practice teacher in the normal school of tho
seventh and eighth divisions, at a salary of 300
per annum, to take effect January /, vice S. j..
Cox-Peters, dropped"
REV. Mr.. GRIMKz EXPLAINS.
Rev. Mr.. Grimke was the only member of the
committee whose name was attached to the re-
port and he prefaced its presentation by ex-
planning why he alone represented the COM
mittee. MIR. Darlington, he said, was no longer
member of the committee, as he had resigned
from the school board, while Mr.. Ross, the
other member, had been called from the city,
He said, however, that in talking over the
matter with Mr.. Ross the latter had ap-
proved the action recommended in the report,
and he had no doubt if he was in the city that
he would sign the report He had also con-
suited Mr. Darlington and the latter had agreed
with him in this matter and had advised him
that the action proposed to be taken was en-
tirely legal; that the board made no contract
with the teachers and it was optional with the
board whether they should continue to employ
teachers or not. Mr.. Grimke added that it had
been customary for years in the schools of the
seventh and eighth divisions Cthe colored
schOols) to accept the designations of female
teachers in the event of their marriage at the
end of the term in which the marriage took
place.
If SHE HAD KNOWN SHE WOULDN'T HAVE MAR
Doubt was expressed by Mr. Whelpley whether
the marriage of teacher was a sufficient rea-
son for dismissal. He knew of teachers, and
very efficient ones, in the other six divisions
who were married and he did not think that
marriage IN itself was good reason for dis
pensing with the services of teacher. He
said that one of the teachers mentioned in the
report had called upon him and said that she
expected to resign at the end of the school
year, but that if she had known that she would
lose her position before that time she would
not have married.
Mr.. Grimke said that one of the teachers had
also called upon him before her marriage and
he had informed her OF the custom and told her
exactly what she might expect. He added that
he was of the opinion that the custom was a
good one, and he thought that the interests of
the schools required Its strict enforcement
He had seen in other places the unfayorable
effects upon the public schools OF the retention
OF married teachers.
FRIENDS OF THE MARRIED TEACHERS
Prof. Gregory and Dr. Wilmer raised the
question whether a report brought in by one
member of the committee could properly be
considered report of that committee. The
former observed that in the county schools
which were under his supervision they en-
ployed married teachers. and he was Of the
opinion that marriage alone was not sufficier.
reason for dismissing a teacher He thought
that in this case the record of dropped" was
hardly Just one to be made in the case of
teachers Who had given faithful services to the
schools. He understood that these teachers
were willing to resign at the end of the school
year.
The custom said to prevail in such cases in
the colored schools approved by Mr. Cor
nish. the trustee for these divisions and by Sup
erintendent Cook of the colored schools. The
former said that it was impossible to provide
places for all the graduates of the normal
school, as was done in the other six divisions
and when teachers married and retained their
places that it resulted in preventing some
graduates from securing leadership. For
this reason, as well the one referred to by
MIR. Grimke, he was In favor of the report.
ASKED TO RESIGN But wouLDS'r
II was developed in the conrse of the discus
sion that the resignation of those teachers had
been asked for, but they had refused to hand
them in and so the only course was to drop
them from the rolls. Mr.. Grimke said that he
understood that the teachers had taken legal
advice as to the powor Of the board to drop
them from the rolls.
In the opinion of Mr. Mitchell the Judgment
of the local trustee, the superintendent of the
colored schools and the representative of those
schools on the high and normal school commit
tee ought to be sufficient guide for the action
of the board. He believed that they ought to
be sustained in this matter.
Mr.. Whelpley favored postponing the decis-
ion of the question until the next meeting.
In reply to a question Mr.. Grimke said the
custom referred to in the colored schools ap-
piled only to female teachers and not to male
teachers.
The board, when the question was put to a
vote, adopted the report as offered by Mr..
Grirnke.
CHANGES IN TEAcHERsHIPs
was the next subject considered by the board
and among others Prof. Gregory submitted
the nomination Of Mrs. Ida Richardson as a
substitute teacher for the Mott building.
Widow, SUPPOSE" inquired Mr.. Mitchell.
NO replied the professor, as he looked
around at the smiling faces of his associates,
''she Is married"
The committee on teachers submitted the
iolLoWlng report, which was adopted:
Appoint Miss Mabel Champion. fifth grade
second division, teacher vice Miss Drury, re-
signed. Appoint Miss Grace Humbert, first
grade, third division. IN place OF Miss Sheed
transferred to first division.
Seventh and eighth divisions-Transfer b
W. Wertz from third to fourth grade at a salary
Of $3.50; 5. II. Reed from first to third grade at
salary OF $3.50; E y. Sewail from first 70 third
grade at a salary of $3.50. Appoint L. NJ.
Wilder 10 first grade at salary OF 500; Jane
NJ Taylor To first grade at salary of 500. All
70 take effect January l, 1890. Grant leave of
absence without pay on account OF sickness TO
J. L. Thomas from January / to june 30 1890
Appoint L. NJ. Wilder temporary teacher third
grade at salary OF $3.50 from November H. 1899.
10 January !. 1890. Transfer L. A. Boston from
sixth 10 seventh grade at a salary of SS25; T.
A. Chase from fifth TO sixth grade at salary OF
S!I5; II. V. Bruce from fourth 10 fifth grade at
salary of Zoo; n. Z. Bruce from third to
fourth grade at salary Of $3.50; IL. 4. Hebron
from second to third grade at salary of $3.50.
All to take effect january 1. 1890 Appoint
James n. Taylor temporary teacher third grade
school ct $500 from November Is to january /.
A Bell, first grade, at salary of Zoo TO take
effect January l; Berthe Brooks first grade. al
salary OF s4UO. vice j. &. Winsloy deceased
TO take effect November 25 Appoint Hansen
Lemon teacher third grade, fourth division
s2lle NJ Yerkus. assistant teacher fourth
division, TO take eject December L. 1880
A third-class certificate was granted n
EmmN Patterson; return Mas NJ. l. Morton