DeSoto times. (Hernando, Miss.) 1879-1898, 1890-02-27
The Financial Disadvantages of Feminine
Instructors of the Ioung-Poor Pay and
Hard Work.

The Financial Disadvantages of Feminine
Instructors of the Young-Poor Pay and
Hard Work.
Teachers in the public schools are a
class from whom much is required and
to whom little is given. This, Of course,
refers to women teachers, since the po-
sitions of principal and superintendent
are generally given to men. In city
like Chicago, writes, Mary II, krout, in
mary training required Of a man who is
mt upon the police force. A certain de-
gree of physical endurance and courage
is acquired; but aside from this, he is
picked up wherever the appointing poll
tician may find HMM the slumS, 1t
may be, or the SalOOn-a triumphant
illustration of what ''infuence" will do
for one unable to do any thing for HIM
self. The same is true Of other public
officials. who earn salaries and perform
the fcwcst possible duties perfunctoriIy
and. therefore. indificrentlY well. In
each instance the man is paid twice Or
thrice the salary given the woman to
whom the education and moral training
of Young children has been intrustcd
In the first place, the teacher must be
educated herself. The course in the
high school, academy or college, must be
supplemented by another course almost
as lengthy in normal school, where IN
addition to book knowledge the theory
and practice of teaching are acquired
Estimating time with the actual outlay
in dollars and cents for text books, fees,
and innumcrablc incidcntals. this prepa-
ration represents hundreds Of dollars
invested. from which there is no return.
When the teacher has at last graduated,
after wears of labOriOus study, she IS
only a cadet This means she is to sup
ply" at the merest pittance, until va
Cancv occurs which she shall be regu-
larlv elected to fill. The cadets pay
the cadet, be it borne in mind. trained
and educated--iS less than the pay OF a
man who digs in the street. While she
| is waiting to be formally elected she is
| in constant readiness to 90 when sum
moncd. like a soldier under marching
| orders, so that her time, for which she
receives nothing at all, is virtually at
the disposal of her superior officers.
When finally full hcdgcd teacher, she
| begins on a salary ranging from $50 To
| $40 month: it may be more in Chicago;
| in other cities it is less.
| Now-a-days there is a universal re-
spect for appearances. 1t is right and
nrOppr. but it gives the male street la
borer the financial advantage over the
female school teacher He can shovel
earth in cowhide boots and cOttonade
| Ovcralls, but the woman teacher, earn
inr but $50 or $40 must be in appearance
as we'll as in manner and requirements
a gentlewoman. The principal, the
s,lperintendent on his tour Of inspection
sees her standing behind her desk fault
| lessly dressed, fresh gown, neat boots
spotless collars and cuffs. Rags anC
matches. untidincss mean, in many
towns and cities, reprimand, suspension
and discharge. This, of itself is not un
reasonable. The teacher should be
model to her pupils, in self-respectine
| cleanliness, but the means should bt
| given with which to make it possible.
For the observing principal, the criti
| cal superintendent on his rounds OF IN
spection see only the practical results
without knowing what it has cost /
means precisely this-lack of sutficien
and proper food, sitting up of night
sewing when the tired brain should bt
at rest; running the sewing machine al
day Sunday that the gown, which coult
not be finished on Saturday, because o
the convention or grade meeting, ma!
be in readiness for the Monday morning
session. 1t means hours spent at th'
ironing board and the wash tub-far in
to the night, hours thaS should be in