The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-01-21

put salaries so low that no self.respecting man
viii attempt TO found or preserve q family on
the pittance he receives"
This statement is remarkable as emanating from
so intelligent a man the eminent professor.
II our school system lacks aught, It is more, not
less, womanly influence injected into its methods,
not only in school teaching, but in school govern
ment. An equal representation OF men and
women on our school boards; our school economy
demands the mother element in conjunction with
the fatherhood too preponderant at present in
our local boards Of control.
II is not clear upon what basis the professor
arrives at his premise that men are better pre-.
pared for teaching. Statistics show more girls
than boys graduated from our public schools. In
Pennsylvania the proportion is two to one. The
report of the national commissioner Of education
gives 1851 males and 4,o67 females who are stu.
dents in pedagogy in co-educatonal institutions.
In Pennsylvania normal schools the list OF gradu.
ates who intend to teach number 9a7 females and
5i7 males. Other states have about the same pro.
portion.
The national government need feel no cause
to interfere to compel stricter examinations"
In the normal school course of preparation, and
in all examinations for teachers, men and women
applicants undergo the same public test, and
stand upon the same educational plane. No nor
NAL issues dferentiating certificates for male
and female students.
Too frequently young men enter the teaching
profession as means to an end stepping stone
financially, while preparing for other vocations.
Woman is the natural educator; man lacks the
instructive knowledge OF child-nature essential in
the mental training Of the young In primary
grades, especially, men rarely achieve success.
The modern professor is out OF place in the child
garden, and seeks the domain OF the higher grades
where salaries loom in misplaced proportion.
The entrance OF women into the profession has
not lessened the income OF male teachers, since
there is no record OF the latter having received
greater average remuneration than now. In 1893
the average monthly pay Tor male teachers was
$ii.76; in 1900 it has increased to Si5.25.
To the suggestion that the national government
"compe school boards to maintain adequate sala-
ries" we in hearty accord And in the ma.
tional government lies the remSly. In school
teaching, as in every other occupation, disfran-
chised class is helpless and menace. Let the
ballot accompany the diploma, and the salaries
OF teachers, and all other wage'earners like
equipped will speedily rise to the high plane
where skill and ability command recognition ir-
respective OF sex,
Dr. ". C. Schacffcr, superintendent Of public
instruction OF Pennsylvania Uhan whom there
is no higher authority. displays much acumen
and lberality in his report, which says: "rhe
schools are largely taught by women, and, un-
fortunately, they are not as well paid for tncir
work as men. From the days in which a band
Of pious women fingered last around the cross
and came first 10 the open sepulchre on the morn
ing OF the resurrection, woman has been dong
missionary work, seldom geeting equal pay fer
equal work alongside Of her stronger brother.
May the present agitation in her favor produec
atundant results in better pay"
Ida Porter Boyer.