Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-02-09
NO LACK OF TEACHERS.
Superintendent Tinker Has Enough
 on Waiting List to Supply Demand.

In6 TGudTkH CTS0lCeu to Super1u- aendent Stuart of the New Britain schools regarding the difficulty en- countered in securing experienced teachers ill that town and attributins the cause to matrimony has occa- sloned a lot of talk all over the state and set school boards in other cities to making inquiries how they stand Superintendent Tinker of the Water bury High school, who has about 25O young women teachers under his con- teol, was asked today ii he had any reason to believe that the alleged matrimonial wave among teachers in the public schools was likely to strike Waterbury, and If so, what prepara- ton. If any, had been made to meet It. MT Tinker said he had no means of knowing how many local teachers had planned to marry during the present year, but he had notion that the number would not exceed that on the waiting list He felt confident : that some Of the teachers would get married soon. In fact he would De very much surprised if this were not so, but he didn't think the matrimon- ial ventures in 1904 would be above normal, even though 1t is leap year, for it is 8 matter of history that the school teacher does not ind it neces- sary to pop the question.
 'There are thirty three names on the waiting list" said Mir Tinker, made up entirely of college. state normal and city normal graduates. Of this number seventeen are teaching out of town schools and the rest are substi- tuting in the city. While this list has fourteen less names than that Of last year, still it is ample to supply new teachers and substitutes for the coming year. Every one Of these young ladies before being appointed will have had from one to two years experience dn teaching and may be rightfully called an experienced teacher.1
 MT Tinkers opinion ought to be sur- fcient to set parents of children att tending the public schools at rest on this question, for it isn't at all likely that the rush from the school room to Hymen's altar will be so great as to demoralize the teaching forces in the public schools.
 Here in Waterbury many wonder how they get any competent teachers in the schools at New Britain on acc count of the poor salaries paid and probably if MT Stuart cared to say so he would attribute the dearth. of teachers to niggardliness and other doihgs on the part of the school board and not to a matrimonial craze. Another reason that might. be mentioned is that New Britain is not making the effort Waterbury Is to educate it's youth and tt young wo- men for teaching, nor does 1t furnish the same incentive for all to equip themselves for the profession or teaching. In Waterbury merit is the essential and without it no one can teach in the public schools. New Britain has a state normal school, but 1t does not appear to be making much use of 1t. Last year it had four grad uates from the institution, while Wa terbury, about twenty-five miles dis tant, had seven graduates from New Britain, i've from New Haven and one from Wiliimantic. In this year kha number In the graduatin class at the normal school from New Britain is six and from Waterbury seven To be sure, Waterbury is a larger city than New Britain. but look at the dis advantages it has had to, contend with from an educational standpoint. Until recently it had no training school and it would not have one to- day unless the people took hold Of 1t themselves and showed 8 willingness bo shoulder the expense. It was said that when Senator Tracy went to Hartford Waterbury would get a training school, but the politicians had other uses for the funds at their dis posaI and sought to get out of their promise to establish state normal school in Waterbury by publishing 8 card to the effect that the strike killed the project.
 But this is not to the potntr Are more school teachers marrying now than formerly2 That's the question. Some answer the query in the affirm ntive, while others say that there Is no truth In it, but it is safe to state that the teachers are getting married according eas good opportunities pre- sent themseves. and that is where their heads are level