New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-02
NOBLE ARRAY OF TEACHERS.
PRESIDENT HUNTER ON PEDAGOGY AS
A FIELD FOR WOMEN

FEMININE TACT AND MATERNAL. cENTLESEss
NEEDED FOR YOUNG CHILDREN WHY
MEN TEACHERS GET MORE PAY
AS RULE
For children of both sexes under twelve
thirteen years OF age women more success
full as teachers than men. For many reasons.
after this period men are better adapted for the
management and instruction Of boys. Girls who
have reached the age Of sixteen should be
taught by both men and women teachers. mas
much as the vast majority OF the fourteen mill
ions of children enrolled in the public schools or
the United States below the age OF thirteen.
1t naturally follows that over two-thirds OF the
teachers are women. This fact always aston
ishes European visitors. for throughout the ma
lions Of the Old World the reverse Of this is
true-the great majority Of the teachers are
men, even In the lower primary schools 1t Is
gratifying to learn. however. that In recent
years In the more civilized nations OF Northern
and Western Europe, especially in Great Brit
ain, the employment of women teachers is great
ly on the increase.
II Is the glory Of the United States that order.
peace and good government are maintained not
by a standing army OF soldiers. but by stand
whom nearly three hundred thousand are women
As the women teachers instruct the younger
children when impressions are most lasting and
when their characters are most easily formed
for "the child is father to the man"-it follows
that they perform the principal work in making
good aw-abiding citizens These noble women
have been the propa gandists of honor. courage
and patriotism.
II is a trte saying that great men have had
great mothers Most men who have achieved
success have had some woman-rnother aunt.
sister some one dearer-to spur them onward
and upward How many men nave received
their inspiration from women teachers the world
has never known. never will know. The late
Richard Cobden the distinguished Corn Law
leader, during his visit to the United states, IN
1861, said, in a speech to the boys OF the
Thirteenth-st school, that the most beautrui
sight he saw in America was district schooi In
Minnesota taught by delicate young woman
who looked not more than eighteen many OF
whose pupils were farmers sons-big. burly
boys. any one Of whom might have seized her
by the shoulders and thrown her out OF the WIN
dow He concluded with these memorable
words:
when saw such obedience to law. such per-
feet order. such conformity to rule under the
authority Of mere girl, knew the Rebellion
was doomed and that the North would crush the
South" .
Mr. Golden might have gone further and said
1t was the public schools that made the great
Republic and we might say to-day that II was
the public schools mainly conducted by women,
that led to American triumph and glory at Ma
Mia and Santiago.
INSTRUCTORS FOR YOUNG CHILDREN.
For children between five and thirteen, women
are naturally the best teachers, because the ma
ternal instinct makes them patient and synpa-
tbetic. and their quickness Of perception gives
them a keener insight into character, and hence
they are better able and more willing to respect
the individuality Of their pupils. IL must De re-
membered that without this knowledge OF each
individual pupil there can never be good. WHOLE
some teaching. Women teachers are more tact
full and considerate with the younger chlldren
than men are and il must be admitted that they
are as a rule, more spiritual ana CONSCIENTIOUS
These are some of the reasons why in all the
large cities fourhfths Of the classes In the boys
schools are taught by women.
SALARIES OF MEN AND WOMEN.
II is singular fact that women's work in the
schools has never been properly appreciated
especiallv in the important matter Of compensa-
ton for after ell is said and done the salary is
the outward and visible sign OF the Importance
and dignity of the Office. Men teachers ss
rule for similar work receive 80 per cent higher
salaries than women. and in some places more
than 80 per cent. ,oo-
In Commissioner Harriss report for 1898 we
find the following facts showing the difference
in monthly salaries:
In Ne,y-York men teachers receive an average
of S74 % and women teachers Sol SO. diner
ence in favor Of the men Of 80 per cent; In Mas
sachusetts men receive S12S 10 and women
$4S IS less than half; in Rhode Island men
SOL SO and women 30CS; in Connecticut. men
generally ranked among the most enlightened in
the country, and yet this glaring injustice seems
to pass unnoticed. In Delaware The men teach
ers receive $50 co. the women S34 OS; in Mary
land the men S4S, the women $40 AZ, In South
Carolina the men So 46 the women 81 81; In
Florida the men $50 80, the women S3I.
From these figures il will be observed that
when the salaries OF the sexes are very low they
are nearly equ2l-that is to say. when the salary
of the is beggary that OF the woman
reaches the verge OF starvation ana cannot De
reduced any lower.
An argument II argument 1t may be called.
commonly used by school officials In favor OF
this unjust disparity between the salaries OF
men and women who perform like service, Is
that men have usually families to support But
why not carry this argument to logical conclu-
sion? II one man has family OF Six persons
he is entitled to far higher compensation than a
man who has family Of three persons And
should he be so fortunate AS 10 nave famlly OF
nine his salary ought to be increased threefold'
The man who obtains additional compensation
solely on account Of the size Of his family Is
simply the recipient of charity. Those who use
this himsy argument against equal salary LOT
equal work forget that thousands OF women
teachers have also families 10 support-invalid
PARENTS widowed mothers and younger brothers
and sisters
There is however one reason why men teach
ers should receive higher salaries than women,
and that is that the supply Of women teachers
greatly exceeds the demand, and the reverse Is
the case as regards the men, We have not far
10 20 TO find the cause for this deplorable fact.
WHY THE RANKS ARE OvERFULL.
In the ups and downs of American life-rich
to day and poor to- morrow-young women edu-
Gated in finishing schools (Which never fnish)
are often suddenly called upon to earn living.
They have no business talent. they UNIT for
literary work they are ashamed to do mental