The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-07-13
The Single Ladies Must Go Out,
but If Married May
Come Back.
DETERMINATIONS,
UNJUST
Directors Eager to Make Vacancies and
Adopt an Unconstitutional
Rule.

In the adoption of the rule requiring
lady teachers TO resign from the depart
ment when they marry, the Board of Edu-
cation has sown the seeds of moral and
political whirlwind in the public schools.
new and striking feature about this
rule is, that while it requires the maidens
to resign it does not prohibit their imme-
diate Unemployment as teachers upon the
expiration of their honeymoon. 1t is, ac-
cordingly, as paradoxical as it is funny.
Teachers are also wondering why Director
Comte, who is an attorney, voted for the
enactment of rule which he had already
advised his associates was unconstitu-
tional. Its operation during the time it
remained IL force is likely to be prod uctive
of numerous entangling situations, which
will be watched with lively interest by all
concerned.
Miss Jeanette Harper, teacher in the
Mission Gramna Scnool, was united in
wediock on the very evening of the adop-
ton of the Objectionable law. Since she
is now the wife OF son of Judge Wallace
1t Is expected that her resignation will be
voluntarily submitted at the next session
OF the Board of Education. The opinion
has been freely expressed, however, that
the resignation would be entirely at her
option, and could not be consistently de-
manded under the rule by the school
sages.
within the past year." said Dr. c. "A. Gin
ton, who is chairman of the qualifications
committee, 1.-THE rule relative to the mar
rage of our lady teachers has been
changed half a dozen times. I am fully
satisfied that the anti-marriage rule. which
has recently been re-enacted, is unconsti-
tutional. / did not favor it, yet there is
something to be said for il IS well as
against it.
"The theory is that the department is
Justly entitled to the entire time OF its
teachers, yet when a lady married her
home and family duties must necessarily
divert share of her time and attention
from the school and the children under
her tuition. The true reason, though. for
its adoption is, l think, to make vacancies
in the department TO be filed by the
directors.
"Undou btedly it is discrimination be-
tween the sexes as we'll as being hostile to
marriage, and cannot, in consequence, be
upheld upon any moral or legal ground.
Still, while 1t may result in reducing the
number of marriages in the department.
it is practically imperative, because lady
who resigns can, ii she has sufficient influ-
ence, re-enter the department as a teacher
after taking q husband, for there is no law
prohibiting the employment of married
ladies. The inconsistency of il is ludic-
rous, isn't it7
There are now in the department many
most excellent teachers, married and
single. The moral power teacher pos
sesses over her pupils would naturally be
increased by marriage. 1t is doubtful, of
course, if young lady teacher would feel
inclined to take an appeal to the courts
when she married. If her husband should
be wealthy or very well-to-do she would de-
sire to resign and let him support her; but,
on the contrary, there are cases where the
I
marriage would be impractica bic unless the
wife's earnings could be joined with his.
The more experienced teachers we have
the better it is for the schools. Young
girls frequently calculate upon teaching
for year or two to maintain themselves,
and then just as soon as they can find
husbands to resign. The many changes
and we ought to promote as far as pos
sible the wishes of ladies who take up
teaching as life profession"
II don't believe" said Director H. c.
Henderson, Sin keeping any dead-letter
rules upon our books. What is the use of
it, anyhow? IF the single ladies teaching
in the department wish to marry and can
get good chance why shouldn't they2
It's nobodY's business except theirs and
their husbands. The Board OF Euuca-
ton can't stop them. rule or no rule, and
1t is no use for them to try.
when l first went into the department
l had that silly antl-marriage law knocked
out. Why is it put back now? That's
conundrum. guess though, that some
OF my worthy associates are looking for
some good places for their friends. There's
another joker about the rule besides its
unconstitutionality, and that is that the
directors won't dare even to ask teacher
when she marries TO resign. II she is very
timid she may be scared into doing IL
against her will, but if she doesn't, she
will be let severely alone. You'll see that
what Pm telling you is straight, and if
some plucky young teacher ever takes
this anti-tnarriage rule into the courts it
will be knocked skyhigh."