Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1890-02-20
CHORUS.
WOMEN TEACHERS.
-Woman's Journal

The Financial Disadvantages of Feminine
Instructors of the Young-Poor Pay and
Hard Work.
Teachers in the public schools are
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
Chicago Inter Ocean, there is no prelim-
mary training required of a man who is
put 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, it
may be, or the saloon-a triumphant
illustration of what influence" 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 fewest possible duties perfunctorily
and, therefore, indifferently 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 intrusted
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 innumerable incidentals, this prepa-
ration represents hundreds of dollars
invested, from which there is no return.
When the teacher has at last graduated,
after years of laborious study, she is
only cadet. This means she is to sup
ply" at the merest pittance, until va
cancy occurs which she shall be regu-
larly elected to fill. The cadets pay
the cadet, be it borne in mind, trained
and educated--is less than the pay of
man who digs in the street. While she
is waiting to be formally elected she is
in constant readiness to go when sum-
moned, 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 fedged teacher, she
begins on salary ranging from $50 to
$40 month; it may be more in Chicago;
in other cities it is less.
Nowadays, there is a universal re-
spect for appearances. 1t is right and
proper, but it gives the male street Ia
borer the financial advantage over the
female school teacher. He can shovel
earth in cowhide boots and cottonade
overalls, but the won3ln teacher, earn
ing but $50 or $40 must be in appearance,
as well as in manner and requirements,
gentlewoman. The principal, the
superintendent on his tour of inspection
sees her standing behind her desk fault
lessly dressed, fresh gown, neat boots,
spotless collars and cuffs. Rags and
patches, untidiness mean, in many
towns and cities, reprimand, suspension
and discharge. This, of itself is not un'
reasonable. The teacher should be a
model to her pupils, in self-respecting
cleanliness, but the means should be
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. II
means precisely this-lack of sufficient
and proper food. sitting up of nights
sewing when the tired brain should bt
at rest; running the sewing machine al
day Sunday that the gown, which coulC
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 thu
ironing board and the wash tub-far in
to the night, hours that should be in
violsbly devoted to rest and recreation
For, out of that starvation salary no
one cent can be expended for worl
which the tired fingers can perfru
themselves. To be required to keep u
appearances with no means to provid
the common necessaries of life, is of al
fates the most cruel, and it is in thi
way, precisely, that the underpai
teacher manages TO keep herself prs
sentable.
There has been an attempt to justif
the poor pay by the short hour
which constitute days work in tn
school-roon- In many cities the sho,
hours are only nominal There is wor
before and after the regular session, an
st recesses. Just as laborious and fatizl