Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1892-03-26
,owicK& WEIGH. Editors and Publishers
SATURDAY, MARCH 26, 1892.

RULE has been adopted by many OF
the boards of education in the larger
cities prohibiting the employment "
married women as teachers in the public
schools. In drawing up contracts a pro-
yiso is inserted in which the teacher
agrees to tender her resignation In case
she violates the rule during the term Tor
which she was employed. 1t occurs to us
that this rule is in violation OF every
principlepf justice, contrary to puolic poll
cy, tyrannical in the extreme, and that u
cannot be supported by any good valid
reason that would not apply with the
same directness, if urged against the
other sex, under the same conditions.
THAT it is not justice follows as matter
of course, unless 1t can be- shown that
there is valid reason for making the dis
elimination. 1t Is generally admitted
that married men are more reliable and
Trustworthy as employees in all kinds OF
business. The reasons for this are APP
parent. There Is doable responsibility
resting on the married man, be has an
additional incentive, and will make an
extra effort to please his employer, He
is no longer transient, boarding by the
week, but is citizen, householder OF
the community in which he resides, and
loss of his position often means removal
4
reliable and trustworthy from the fact
that he is married man. Will not this
rule apply almost equally as we'll with re-
gard to the other sex? True married
woman is not usually the head of family
sometimes she isl but her interests are
identical with those of her husband, and
she is endowed with the same additional
incentives in contributing to the support
of the family. Again it is fact, gener-
ally admitted, that an unmarried woman
is inferior, as rule, 20 her brother in all
matters of business. Why is this? Ask
any business man and he will tell you,
it is not on account OF mental inferiority
and in many kinds of business it iss not
on account of physical incapacity. 1t is
for the reason that most young women
expect, when they meet their ideal OF man.
hood, to get married, and when that
event occurs they expect to be queen OF
his household and bread winner no
longer. 1t is plainly apparent under
hot ho
will not make the effort TO become
Thoroughly qualified for work which
she does not intend to be permanent;
which she has only taken up for time.
We think this is all wrong and that any
system which 10y unjust indiscrlmination
fosters and encourages this idea should
be abolished. Els tendency is felt per-
haps more liz educational matters than IN
any other profession. 1t is deplorable
fact that most of our women teachers do
not especially qualify themselves for the
work for the reason above assigned. They
do not expect to make it a life work, and
when they realize that their occupation
is entirely gone after marriage, the
principle incentive is lacking. We are
aware that in some instances valid OBJ
iections might be urged against married
women teaching i'll our public schools
but that is no reason for disbarring all
1t would be proper to make rules to ap-
ply in certain cases. Women, with pro.
per training and proper encouragement,
are peculiarly adapted for the profession
of teaching. Their natural qualifications
are even superior to those OF the other
sex in this particular field, and we firmly
to those who are unmarried as q rule
Then, instead of adopting rules which
have tendency to lower the standard OF
qualifications, why not adopt the opposite
theory in the interest of the cause of edu.
cation. Is it not time that the "lords oil
creation" should show their boosted
chivalry in a practical way by making
talent aud ability, competency in the full
sense of the word, the only test and
throw down the barriers which it seems
to us is only relic of barbarlsm and the
result OF superstition. This ia not alto.
gether plea for the married women, but
for the sex in general, who never will re-
ceive equal Fay for equal service rendered
until all distinctions of sex are obliterated
and the quality of the work performed
the only question considered. All men
pride themselves ON their courtesy and
consideration of the gentler sex. 1t is
considered, aud justly too, as an evidence
of advanced manhood, but in dealing
with that portion which from necessity
or otherwise are wage workers, their pro-
fessions are shown to be insince-e when
they are not even willing to accord the
same privileges that they reserve fol-
themselves.
j. 3. Snow, superintendent OF, the