The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-12-03
aive Female Teaohera a Chanoe.

D tue dCtlOA OF the lower Draucl OF the
| legislature of this state in denying female
/ teachers the right TO enter the normal
/ school, asks how many of the members
Of the legislature can read and write.
Such a criticism as that is unjust to the
Georgia legislature, because that body
compares favorably in point Of inteIH-
gence with the legislature Of any other
state, but it shows how the action Of the
legislature shutting out female teachers
from the normal school Is regarded out
side of the state, and it has the effect of
creating the impression that George is
much less progressive than other states
in matters pertaining to education
We are unable 10 see any reason for
denying the privileges of the normal
school 10 female teachers Indeed. there
are just as many reasons why they should
have the benefits of the school as there
are that male teachers should have
them, and these are the very best and
strongest reasons why there should be
the very best kind of a normal school for
both male and female teachers.
There are about as many female teach
ers in the state as there arc male.
oAANAtA A4LD ECASLd- law tIltIG dIt $50
male and :, 1853 female teachers, but in the
towns, under the local laws, there are
more female than male teachers. And
these female teachers are doing Just as
important work as the males, and their
opportunities for fitting themselves for
their work should be as good.
We feel sure that if the attention of the
legislature had been particularly called to
the fact that the bill establishing a state
normal school provided that only males
should have the benefits of the school, the
bill would have been so amended as to
put female teachers on footing with
male teachers. The bill was put through
the House with a rush, as it provided no
appropriation and was regarded as in
vOlvlng only the acceptance by the state
of property valued at 81, 900.
After the bill had passed both houses
the attention of the friends of it was
called to the injustice that had been done
female teachers. They spoke of it as
being an oversight, or clerical error,
which the next legislature would correct.
An amendment making the correction
came up for action in the House a few
days ago, and, strange as it may appear,,it
was defeated. Its friends, however, sue
ceeded in getting a reconsideration of it.
Why was it defeated That is a question
that is exciting inquiry and comment 1t
cannot be possible that in the Georgia
legislature there is a prejudice agai ust
female teachers. We feel confident that
the people have no such prejudice.
H.. L. Al
there is a purpose on the part of certain
interests to defeat the establishment of
the normal school, and that in the orig
inal act the limitation TO male teachers
was adroitly introduced to accomplish
that object. Can this suggestion be well
founded The friends of education in
this state ought to make diligent in
quiries as to whether it is or not. II
there are interests hostile to the
normal school, they should not
be allowed to prevail. The benefits
which flow from a normal school are too
great to permit the people to be deprived
of them for any selfish purpose, or, in
fact, for any reason.
All the other states have normal schools
for both male and female teachers. They
are so helpful to teachers and contribute
so much to the cause of education that
no one of these states would consent to
give them up on any consideration They
are given a liberal support, and the senti-
ment is that the money spent upon them
is well and wisely spent.
Georgia is behind the other states in
respect TO normal schools She can not
afford to remain in that position. She
must keep abreast of the times if she
wishes to retain her position as Empire
state of the south. She cannot afford to
adopt narrow-guage policy in the mat
ter of education. She must be liberal
and progressive, because that is the only
way to prosperity. Immigrants and
capital so where education is encour-
aged.
The legislature should not only open
the doors of the normal school to female
teachers, but it should make a liberal APP
preparation for the improvement of the
normal school property and for the main
tenance of the school. The governor ia
vors such a policy, and so does School
Commissioner Bradwell who, in his last
annual report, says 1.-The common school
system OF Georgia will never be complete
until ample facilities are Afforded by the
state fors supplying Ell cient teachers for the
schools. Normal schools are necessary TO
furnish the teachers of the future" In
deed, all the progressive men OF the state
are friends of the normal schools. The
legislature cannot afford to strike down
the normal school. Its duty is to build
it up.
That Income Tax.