New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-11
THE WOMAN TEACHER.
Place She Holds in Public School System in
United States.

"As the soul Of democracy stand the five hundred
thousand teachers Of America" said the
Rev Anna Garlin Spencer at the Brooklyn 1nsti-
tute on Friday. "A small boy stayed home from
kindergarten day with cold. After he had
tortured his mother almost into nervous prostra-
ton with questions all day. he thought OF one
he undressing for bed
Mother where's my soul" said he.
"'Oh, SON. said she. desperately. just wait till
tomorrow and I'll try TO explain it to you
{" That's all right. mother he rejOined hastily
'just put your finger the spot where my soul IS
and you 'splain It Tomorrow
I'VE put finger the soul OF democ-
racy," said Mrs. Spencer. 1T is education. De-
mocracy and the public school system have devel-
oped together. one and the same movement. They
cannot exist separately. There those who say
immigration should be stopped. But 1 sure We
shall receive more than give TO the immigrants
IL we are only able to do one thng-make the edu-
cational opportunities correspond to the need
Right at this point-the danger point. the stra-
tegic point. the point OF overwhelming Importance in
our national lfe-stands that army Of five hundred
thousand women teachers the largest body of pub
lie servants IN America, with its finger the soul
OF democracy. As its touch is true, its aim high,
Its sympathies broad. in that proportion will the
soul Of democracy be found and developed
FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND OF THEM.
Mrs. Spencer gave interesting statistics of the
women teachers in her review OF "WOman's Con-
tribution TO Educational interests" OF the males
over ten in the United States she said so per
cent were engaged IN gainful occupations. while
OF the females ten only per cent
engaged Yet in the professional ranks and
women are nearly equal In numbers in America;
thousand school teachers.
as men, said the. lecturer. Including all the
Tb IN wf6 t NJ Srs mo
this profession to all others proves the contention
the natural teachers of the world
All history bears out their claim. No matter
kat OF ifp flglfp In hat
or country he Will find the women passing on the
Grafton. Go with Americas great woman ethnolo-
gist among the Indian tribes and you will find the
o. the house but 1t Is Just as tenacious and the
tally may sleep in perfect safety in the tent with
Il dozen Indians;
ers Of America are only doing what women have
neen busy at since the beginning Of things II is
the same old occupation. only with the growth OF
demiocTscy and cooperation and the necessity OF
from home. instead OF at hcme.
NATURAL INSTRUCTORS.
we hear n great deal to-day about the new
fields oc work into which women pushing. II
Is somewhat startling 70 know that there are more
women preachers than there are men dressmakers
IN the United States And with all the oppor-
tunities opening to them. II is significant OF their
natural fitness for the calling that 50 overwhelm-
Ing a proportion OF them remain In the old pro
lesion, which was the first one they entered out
Every now and then We hear a mournruI pla'nt
!n schools Well l hope the day will come
when We shall have more departmental teaching.
which will attract OF high ability To our
schools. 50 that children may have the benefit OF
knowing great and good men teachers. as we'll a.
great and good women teachers. But II il is
claimed that the character ot the teaching force
IS lowered because il IN made up Of women say
that all history disproves the claim P-salozzl I'D
vised that school boards and educational commits
sions should be made up not 81 men from tho uni
versity alone. but from all classes and ne named
them over. And then lie added: And OF women
not few and from all conditions OF life that they
may see that there Is rothing visionary in the
scheme
That IS a recognition without parallel = the
practical genius ~ woman said Mrs Spencer.
Woman IS the practical sex. Non ere tho great
idealists. II women have a quality earth which
dTereutiates them from e Is their genius FOR
applying and adapting theories and ideals 20 prac
teal lie.
THE KINDERGARTEN IDEA
Every generation SO get a who Is an
educational genius. But never find the masses
Of mon natural educators. And the geniuses them
selves generally cannot apply their ideas. We
know that poor Pestalozzi himself and Froebel.
almost the sole example OF great philosopher in
education. never had school which wouldn't have
driven rs all crazy n We had seen Il"
Mrs. Spencer declared that the kindergarten IS
the very heart of the new education. and that its
influence I|rmeates the whole educational system.
'Froebel died OF broken heart. said the speaker.
because the l'russian government ordered his
klndcrEarteus closed. The order issued be-
cause the miiitnrisn Of the German nature shrinks
instuctively from the kindergarten which Is tho
very spirit Of democracy-
a broken heart, but there is born in America
other Froebel who Will develop my ideas I'm that
country lie referred TO Elizabeth Peabody. who
brought home me inspiration she had gained
abroad. and sowed IL broadcast. To-day the kin
derEarten fourishes here nowhere else IN tho
world. because II is the embodiment OF the demo
cratic spirit IN education And u has been women
who have loved and fostered and developed It from
the first"