The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-12-23

ing shrek. But the subject is not a
pleasant one, and I am glad to dismiss
it full of hope that L shall have no oc-
casion in the future to refer to it.
THE TEACHERS FEDERATION.
I promised in my former letter to treat
more fully of the work Of teachers
clubs in this city, and shall now en-
deavor to point out some of the objects
that they have accomplished, and I shall
in the future if it becomes necessary
to give a detailed history of their work
That the seemingly adverse criticisms
of DR.. Draper were approved by the
men there can be little doubt, and that
the board of education believe in this
adverse judgment, the teachers begin to
fear. But recently Trustee F.. J. Loesch
before the Rowland club, said that she
took no stock in the federation and con-
sldered it a menace to- order and dis
cipline in the schools" Since then T
have seen no public utterance in favor
of, except from William M, Salter. who
says that they (the menbers) have
rendered the public a service.
what | have most admired in respect
to these organizations is, notwithstand-
ing m1sJudgment, misstatement and mis-
understanding, the ladies' seem ALWAYS
to have been dignified and courageous.
They have not been diverted from their
purpose and unquestionably they have
been quite successful Evervbodv ad
mitted that salaries were. too low. that
assistant teachers should have much
more, but it was found impossible to
make an advance because the limit TO
the tax levy was an insuperable barrier.
The ladies set about and succeeded in
having the limit raised by the leeisla-
ture and in accordance with changed con-
dit1ons The board of education fixed a
a c-0I. l. L.
mendable advance, but not one cent of
this advance has ever been paid In
deed, the board still found itself without
sufficient money to pay the old salaries
and the school year was shortened This
year 1t was proposed to abridge the work
in the kindergarten and other Depart
ments. An inquiry into the cause of this
led to the discovery that although the
tax limit was high enough, the assessed
valuations was inadequate to produce the
necessary funds. The ladies inquired
concerning this and found, as they be-
heved, that the assessment was out
rageously onesided and partial Thew
uncovered franchises worth at least s235.-
100000, upon which not a dollar of tax
was paid, and other property on which
the valuation was ridiculously low, and
they applied to the state board of equali-
cation for a correction of these things
but were denied They then went into
court and successfully mandamused the
board and won a partial victory, where
by they claim to have added 81, O00, 900 to
the school fund for current expenses.
A GOOD FIGHT.
I do not know, of course, what
amount is really secured, but feel that
they made good fight and deserve
credit. not blame for their work. It is
true that this should have been done
by others; that there is ihardships, almost
humiliation, in certain phases of the
work, that it is the business of teachers
to teach, ETC., and yet there is nothing
more imperative than that teachers
should be masters of their own destinies
If the highest office of the teacher he to
form character, to make self reliant in
dependent, capable men and women, then
teachers must be capable of taking care
OF themselves. l suppose that there are
teachers who often compromise with
what is manifestly aneeinjastice rather
than declare themselves ) and interfere
because they are afraid of being deemed
officious, but they do not inSthat respect
at least, set the best example to the
children
Let men insist that women must act
within their sphere; that they know
nothing of business; that they can leave
a situation whenever it becomes irk-
some, but the men should go farther in
Such cases and reach a logical conclusion
VIZ, that women should not teach at all
because their example will weaken force
of character in children and take from
them aggressiveness and self assertion
Is not the fact that women are capabie
OF understanding business affairs, and Of
INSISTING upon personal rights as a part
OF the influence that a te{feher exercises
over. children worth something With ali
my heart 7 believe that women should
teach, but If they are required to sur
render individuality, if they must be re-
duced to the necessity of cringing or of
fawning; of accepting whatever is offered
to them without comment or objection,
then L insist that they had better not
teach Hhere is for them other work that
they can honorably follow. I really be-
lieve that Chicago has reason to feel
proud of n corps of teachers so strong.
we'll informed, and persevering. In add.
ton to what have mentioned through
the work Of these organizations there ia
a pension law in operation
1 would not have it understood that
am fully Informed upon this subject. bur
nave treated Of topics that are well I'M
derstood and admitted by the public.
There are vague hints. that the sessions
are not always dignified; that there are
petty Quarrels and much gossip: that
there are conSplracles, and intrigues
against principals and superintendent
and that the selfish spirit often domi-
mates. Against these accusations the
ladies' can point to what they have ac-
comphshed, and that would seem a suf-
he1ent answer, for with but petty aims.
and selfish objects before them no such
results could have been secured. Against
what has beer actually accomplished no
condemnation can possibly lie, and it IS
therefore necessary in EorYler' to find OBJ
lection to assume that thek1eaI objects
are arbitrary and coercive. 1 do not be-
heVe this to be true. I sincerely hope
that no such mistake will he made, but
that in the future as in the mast tbe biob~
est good Of the school system will en-
gage the attention of these and other
like organizations. As'I'
A ]. Smith.