The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-11-24

content to work for pittance, and
who were almost invariably of good
birth. of pleasing manner, easily Bu1d-
ed and superior as teachers to the
men, who could be had for the same
money Most of these women taught
because our new economic conditions
demanded that they should support
themselves Few of them expected TO
be teachers always, for respectable as
teaching was, marriage was far more
desirable, and custom forbade any oc-
cupation outside home after marriage.
Therefore it was not thought essen
tial TO prepare oneself at consider
able expense of time and Of hardly
earned money for position whose
requirements as to knowledge were
small and which would probably be
abandoned in few years.
During the past two decades the de-
mands for higher efficiency have in
creased and overworked teachers are
endeavoring to supplement their earlier
training by attending teachers assem-
blies. institutes, and normal SCHOOLS.
Even at present however the teach
ers Of our preparatory and high
schools often have no further prepara-
ton than that which the same schools
have given them. Necessarily they
lack broad general culture aud the
technical training necessary to tit
X.
is usually conscientious. but it is often
ineffective and joyless because an inn
perative need for self support has
driven them to enter upon an arduous
and eXhausting occupation without
necessary equipment and without any
special aptitude or love for the work.
The supply of preparatory teachers
has been greatly in excess Of the de-
mand. "a few years ago a prominent
n
could fill at ten days notice every
position in the school Of which nc
was trustee at salaries of $500 q year.
Women, thankful for any position.
have taught for an INADEQUATE wage;
as a result salaries generally nave
been depressed, and mon, unable TO
support their families. have abandon
cd preparatory teaching for more pay
ing work That this lack Of men
teachers i'm our public schools is to be
deplored few will deny. 1t was point
ed out by the Moseley Commission as
the weakest spot in our educational
policy
What then is a possible remedy
for this state Of things First Of all,
better general and special training In
the subject The. Professional Woman
as Teacher one word, professional,
is when applied TO the teacher, re-
cent outgroWth Gradually thrOught-
full people are coming To understand
that teaching is a profession and
should demand as much preparation
as law or medicine. Heretofore on
ly the teachers in colleges and uni
Versities have been considered pro-
fessional. Let us once place all
teaching from the primary school
through the university on level with
the present recognized professions; let
us require OF teachers the general
and technical training that we de-
mand Of doctors and lawyers, and we
shall go far towards remedying the
congestion. The rigorous require
ments viii eliminate the inefficient and
will deter from entering the profess
sion those who have no real love for
il.
What then shall the many women
do who must support themselves and
who are thus debarred from teach
ing? Why should they not enter upon
some of the many occupations which
Commissioner Wright says are open
to them2 We have become quite used
to women as clerks, as stenographers.
as teachers we would soon become
equally accustomed TO women In i'm
dependent business ventures and in
professions. The more responsible
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