The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1903-01-17
TEACHERS SALARIES.

county. both of them of the bifurcatcd
species. rs to the meaning of the term
acoustics"
One argued that il meant that branch
of physics. which treated of tn" phcno-
mcna of sounds, while the other with
equal prrtinacity insisted. that ii related
to the science of morals. and human CON
duct.
"Oh no" replied the first diSputant.
Ethics means til" srionc" of morals.
not acoustics" You ar" entirely wrong.
'No sir said tn" second. II am not
wrong. | know quite rs much about it
as YOU do. have been II teacher in III"
county for thirty years. and | insist that
am right
Fortunately. possibly for the good tenn
perS of both disputants. just at that
juncturc in the discussion. il prominent
Judge of the Orphans Court happened
to pass. to whom the question WAS re-
ferrcd, and who promptly decided the
point at issue. in favor of the first dis
putant.
This incident occurred more than fifty
years ago publicly. at the county'S seat,
and we recall it, to give emphasis to the
noticeable advance in the educational
county since those days.
In the tifticS. most of the teachers Of
this county were men. few of them cdu-
Gated, and most of whom adopted the
avocation as preparatory to some other
ultimate business. Teaching was not re-
garded rs Il distinct profession, or bust
ness, but as Il temporary occupation for
young men, who used it as a stepping
stone while preparing for the pulpit or
the Bar.
Few women adopted il as an avoca-
ton.
Here and there could be. found some
dauntlesS female. who hraved the rigorS
OF winter to WELD the BIRCH but they
We're few in number and as Il rule. better
qualified cducationally than the average
man. and quite superior to him in the
talent for imparting knowledge, and i'll
the tact and patience requisite for the
successful management of pupils.
Gradually however women began to
uSurp the local educational rcins, and
young men gave place to them, largely
on account of the insufficient remuncra
ton paid the teachers. the idea being
generally prevalent then. that woman
could teach quite as we'll as II man. and
could afford to do SO cheaper.
1t wasn't long until in the work of the
public schools, the great body of teach
crS came to be women.
Cecil county to-day out of local staff
of one hundred and forty-0ne public
school teachers. engages not more than
Il dozen or fourteen men.
Now while this sexual transition was
going on in the schools. the standard of
educational qualification growing higher,
and the work of teaching becoming more
recognized rs an avocation, for which
educational training and preparation
We're required. the idea still held sway,
that women could afford to teach for less
remuneration than men.
When. the only resource. that Il woman
compelled to earn her own living had,
was either to open Il boarding house or
teach school. she choose the latter large
than her brains and ability. She took it
for bread ana butter only, it being one of
the few avenues open to her that prom
Used her a living.
She was not rs Il general rule really
qualified to teach either educationally.
or by individual force. but she taught
for what she could get. not for what she
| really earned or deserved
AS the standard Of education grew
higher in the public demand for better
schools. she too grew and developed with
it, She had to- or step down or out. The
Slip-Shod methods of teaching, in ancient
times. wouldn't do for this day and gen
| Grafton. When she Didn't know much as
II teacher. she was willing to work for
what she could get. if il was only half
pay. She had to live, and Il part of II
loaf. was better than no bread.
But while she kept pace. with the popu-
lar demand for educated teachers. for
women who proposed To make teaching
| their life work. strange to say, while the
standard grew higher, salaries did not
keep pace with their growth in qualitica-
| ton us public teachers.
Sh" earns to-day. little more as Il train
| ed and qualified teacher. than she did
when Sh" bluShng maiden in her teens,
set up as the educational head Of n
country school
The average salary paid public school
teachers throughout Maryland proves