Wichita eagle., 1890-02-19
ANOTHER. DISSATISFIED MARRIED WO-
MAN
To the Editor Of the Eagle.

To the Editor Of the Eagle.
Dear Sir.-I was much interested in an
article in the Sunday EAGLE in reference
to our city schools. especially that part of
it that spoke of electing women on school
boards and the regulation excluding wo-
men from principalships and excluding
married women from being employed in
the schools.
1t is astonishing to find such regulations
existing in a city that has the name of be-
ing as progressive as Wichita.
1t reminds one of win Carleton's good
old district fathers. One can almost fancy
they hear the city fathers eXclaim,
'"rhem's my sentiments tew."
think if we had women on the school
board we should soon see these regulations
repealed and l entirely agree with your
correspondent about women being partic-
ular about the order of the premises, nee
essary apparatus; etc.
Those who attended the Southwestern
Association in the fall will remember
Mrs. Julia b. Cations address and the
prominence she gave to the order and neat
ness of school premises.
Mrs Cation. by the way, is the county
superintendent of Cowley county, mar
ried woman, forsooth, and has children,
too. Yet that did not prevent her from
making enc of the brightest addresses at
the association, and one could tell from the
enthusiastic way she talked she was a
good officer sac taught (as married
woman) several terms in Winfield, achley-
ing such success thaC she was elected
county superintendent.
What is the use of a woman spending
time and money fitting herself for pro-
fessiou If she must abandon it if she gets
ial m ri hove. a
rank of common grade teachers.
In asking why the regulation concerning
married women was adopted, l was tod
it was because there We're so many siDge
women in the city who needed the places.
Now, think if we investigate matters
we will find that most of the single ladies
who are employed have homes with their
parents, and the fact of married woman
wanting to teach shows that she needs
employment too. Besides. teachers should
not be hired on account of their needs,
but on account of their fitness for the posi-
ton.
If the city legislates against married
women, it ought TO ieglsiafe for married
men, and pass an ordinance that a mar
ried man shoald get much Larger wages
than "A single one, having useless teacher
ON his hands and possibly one or two chill
dren. The facts in the case being that
owing to depression in business the mar
rled man | am most Interested IN, gets Slo
per month less than the single man WIN
preceded him. In these times OF depreS
sion all obstacles should be removed that
prevent people making an honest living.
Another thing. Suppose a couple come
to Wichita to make it their home. with
some money saved from their mutual earn
ings, do you think the iadv would be will
ling 10 invest it in a home in a city where
she could not hope to get employmcnts
Suppose the husbands health fails. how
eau the wife hone to support the family II
the profession she has spent most of her
life preparing for and practicing, be taken
from herr IL takes good salary TO sup
port even small family, and one can not
command good wages III n-w occupation.
Then there IS natural fitness for things.
Some women do not enjoy housework- and
are better contented earaIng their iIyips
in some other way. In my teaching pro-
feSsiou / nave been acquainted with u
number of married women. and they were
our best teachers.
What say our leading educators about
the regulation excluding married women
from our city schools Prof. Nayior, IT 5
an abominahie rule" County Supsrin-
rendent Pence: lit is most unjust s"
Superintendent Stevenson: 1t certainly
prevents a woman from making II her
profession IN life. y
Now. in vtsw of these facts. I think IL a
married woman brings documentary evi-
Cence' 10 show that she has taught sue.
cessf,lliy in other cities in Kansas, that she
should Al least be accorded , hearing by
the city shoot board.
By one WHO is fortunate enough 10 be 4
lady teacher. and married