The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-09-02

The Question Argued at Length.
Before the school committee yesterday
afternoon, there was hearing involving
the old question of the respective abill-
ties of man and woman as school teach
ers.
Virgil C. Wilson, Esq, appeared in be-
half of remonstrants from District No.
IL PEAKS Island), who object to the pro-
posed change in the employment of
teachers in the grammar school. This is
the school Of which Mr.. Eben w. Will
bur is principal at a salary of $1,000. The
committee propose to hire in place of
Mr.. Wilbur Miss Alice S. Jones, at a sal
airy of $500 year, giving to her two as
sistants at a salary of $500 yearly each.
In this way the school could be run at
yearly expense of $1,000 instead of
$500 as at present. Miss Jones is at
present first assistant of the school.
Mr. Wilson said that many of the peo-
pie living in this district are of limited
means, and a common school education
is the only advantage they can give their
children. They fear that under female
principal the school will deteriorate, and
they represent that the restraining hand
of male teacher is needed. They know
and prospect Mr.. Wilbur, and wish him
retained. They also respect Miss Jones,
and wish her retained as first assistant.
Then Mr.. Wilson called on several citi-
zens of Long Island.
Mr.. Gilman A. Bracket, an old citizen,
was first called He said: think
lady principal could not get along on the
island. Some of the older scholars are
little wild, and need Mr.. Wilbur's care.
have son in the school, and think he
could not get along with female teach
er. The island is a resort, and that fact
has disorganizing effect on school dis
cipline. We want Mr.. Wilbur retained.
Mr. Henry Bracket, for so years res
ident of the island, said he had children
in the school. He was well satisfied
with Mr.. Wilbur aad also with Miss
Jones, but in his opinion female teach
er could not get along with the scholars.
She might get along with his children
but there were scholars who would give
her trouble. The boys were from II to
16 years of age, and would be hard to
manage. Then, some of the girls were
as unruly as the boys.
MI. Blake, Of the Communicable you
think the children on Peaks Island are
worse than those on Long Island, or
have inferior home training?
Mr.. Brackett-Well, scholars differ
even though they have the same training
Mr.. BIake-I think it may be well here
to make the statement that in the
last year the attendance in the Peaks
Island school has not been over 65; that
is, rs in Mr.. Wilbur's room, % in Miss
Jones's, and Is with the .other teacher.
Now, on Long Island there are two
schools, each with about 40 scholars.
Women principals manage these schools
without trouble, although when we first
put them in there was made the same OBJ
lection that is now made here.
This question is not brought up against
Mr.. Wilbur at all, but as matter of
economy. We pay annually only $500
for the so scholars on Long Island, while
for less than 10 scholars on Peaks we are
paying $500 annually. The scholars on
Long Island are even older than they are
on Peaks.
Mr.. Wilson here questioned whether
the schools of Long Island were success
full. The reports for '92 and '93 did not
seem to show that SO far as attendance
was considered
Mr.. Blake doubted this. Those schools
were successful, and gave very little
trouble.
Mr.. Mcdonald, of the committee, sus-
tanned MI. Blake in his opinion. The
discipline of the Long Island schools
was good.
An ex-councilman said that three years
ago when he was in the city government
they were called upon to appoint tru-
ant officer at Long Island, in order to
keep the scholars in the school.
Mr.. Blake said the school could be
managed just as well by lady principal.
Henry Brackett-Why don't you pitch
Mr.. Chase out of the High School and
hire woman for $500 year. A wom-
an can teach the High School just as well
as our school.
Mr.. Blake-I think the cases are quite
different
Mr. Brackett-How are they different?
Mr.. Bradley, of the committee-Mr.
Bracket, if you will find for us wom-
an who, for $500, will manage compe-
tently the Portland High School we will
hire her.
Mr.. Job Sanford made an earnest argu-
esent in favor of male teacher and
against female teacher.
Mr.. Henry Trefethen was next called
by Nj. Blake. He said that Mr.. Will
bur's success with his boy was not the
best; but perhaps it was the fault of the