Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1901-01-25

NO H.
FEMALE SCHOOL TEACHERS.

IN an address before a Teachers
Conference held in New York State.
Prof DeGarmo of Cornell University.
made the following statement:
If the public schools of the country
are to be maintained at their present
high standard, the prevailing vital
defect of women holding nearly ev-
cry teachers position must be rened-
led, even If it is necessary for the ma
tional Government to interfere and
compel the school boards of cities and
towns to appoint proportion ofmaIe
teachers; to compel the women teach
ers to undergo proper preparation
and stricter examinations; and to
maintain adequate salaries. The en-
trance of women into the profession
has put salaries so low that no self
respecting man will attempt to found
or preserve family on the pittance
he receives. +"
This statement is remarkable as
emanating from so intelligent man
as the eminent Professor. If our
School System lacks aught, it is more.
not less, womanly influence injected
into its methods. Not only in school
teaching, but in school government.
an equal representation of men and
women on our school boards: our
school economy demands the mother
element in conjunction with the faith
erhood too preponderant at present
in onr local boards Of control.
1t is not clear upon what basis the
Professor arrives at his premise that
men are better prepared 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 Ma
tional Commissioner of Education
gives 1861 males and 4,267 females
who are students in Pedagogy in Co
Educational Institutions. In Penn
sylvania Normal schools, the list of
graduates who intend to teach num-
ber 966 females and 5I7 males. Other
states about the same proportion.
The National Government need
feel no cause to interfere to "compel
stricter examination" In the Nor
NAL 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
mai issues differentiating certificates
for male and female students.
Too frequently young men enter
the teaching profession as a 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 ofthe higher grades
where salaries loom in misplaced
proportion.
The entrance Of women into the q
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 1898 the average monthly
pay for male teachers was $44.76; in
1899 it has increased to S45.25.
To the suggestion that the Nation
al Government "compel school boards
to maintain adequate salaries" we
are in hearty accred. And in the
National Government lies the reme-
dy. In school teaching as in every
occupation, a disfranchised class is
helpless and menace. Let the bali
lot accompany the diploma, and the
salaries Of teachers, and all wage
earners like equipped, will speedily
rise to the high plane where skilland
ability command recognition ire
spective Of sex.
DIR. N. c. Sehaeffer, Superintendent
Of Instruction, Pennsylvania, (than
whom there is no higher authority
displays much acumen and liberality
in his report which says;
''The schools are largely taught by
women, and unfortunately they are
not as well paid for their work as
men. From the days in which a
band Of pious women fingered last
around the cross and came first to
the open sepulchre on the morning Of
the resurrection, woman has been
doing missionary work, seldom get
ting equal pay for equal work along
side Of her stronger brother. May
the present agitation in her favor pro-
duced abundant results in betterpay.u
The noble tribute and unselfsh
praise Of one of our best of teachers.
IDA PORTER BOYER.
When the stomach is tired ont IL