The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-05-26
NEED MALE TEACHERS.
Discussion. Regarding Public Schools
by the Board of Educa-
ton.

OAKLAND, CAL, May 25. - Ami
Mejahan, secretary of the Educational
Publication Company of this city, believes
there should be more men teachers in the
public schools, and gives his views in the
following interesting statement:
letter which is now before q committee of
the San Francisco Board of Education for con-
sideratfon calls attention to the numerous
victims of suspension from the public schools
OF that City and suggests that the prime cause
of many of these suspensions may be found in
the injustice done the thousands of the older
pupils, and especially the boys, who are I'M
wisely deprived of their just rights to the ben
efts OF male teachers. And the letter under
consideration goes on to say that about the
only excuse for this unwise policy of the board
in employing female teachers to the exclusion
OF male teachers seems to be in order to pro-
vide an ''army of accomplished and lovable
girls and women with positions in the school
department"
Whether or not this committee of investiga-
tion finds that suspensions from the San Fran
cisco schools are, in many cases, chargeable to
the fact that pupils are under the guidance
solely of female teachers, this practice of en-
ploying such an overwhelming preponderance
OF female talent, in City school departments
especially, is one that is attracting great deal
OF opposition.
In perhaps no other city of the United States
are the children so completely deprived of the
benefits of male teachers as in the city of Oak
land, where practically all the pupils in the
public schools are in charge of female teachers.
That this is a mistake no one who under
stands anything about education will deny.
That the very essence of education is the for
nation of character, and that the intangible
something which we call the personality-the
individuality of the teacher-is the subtle
force, power or influence which is leading
formative agency in this work of charater
| building all will admit.
And yet the educational system of our city
Is based practically on the principle that the
children of Oakland shall be brought up under
the influence of feminine traits of character.
There is an ignoring OF the fact that the full
development of child's nature demands that
it be brought under DO tn male and female in
| fuences. The manhood of a man appeals 10
the boy and prompts him in a way which we
cannot wholly comprehend nor define; and
which has tremendous influence on the in
tellectual life of the girl.
There is no denying the truth of the claim
that both male and female teachers are needed
for the proper education OF both boys and
glrls-leading educators the world over so as
sert. great wrong is committed when the
boys and girls of community are obliged to
complete their school course without having
been Instructed by male teacher. And yet
this is what is being done in the city of Oak
land, where only the favored few who attend
the High School have the benefits of male in
struetors.
male teachers TO the teaching force of this city
would be an inestimable blessing to the chill
dren In our grammar schools, and would I'M
doubleday work some surprising changes in
the census statistics, especially as to the great
number OF children OF school age who do not
attend any school. To say this is no disparage-
ment OF the good work that is being done by
the women teachers of the city, many of whom
show special pedagogical ability, The point at
issue is the kind OF instruction that is essential
TO the perfect development of the child and
nature teaches and experience shows that the
Oakland plan produces one-sided results.