New-York tribune., 1905-06-24
DESERVING The SCHOOLS.
NO FUTURE IN TEACHING.
Former Educators, Nosc an Business,
Discuss Conditions.


The last year that I taught school I made
Il 300 The first year that 1 worked In life in
.urance / made S2,400" said Mrs. Theodore
wsdsworth Baker, superintendent Of the
uvon,an's department of an insurance company.
Like every other person who has or has ever
nsd anything to do with teaching, Mrs. Baker
read with interest the review Of the National Ed
uoational Association committees report sal
aries in yesterdays Tribune. This report shows
that the wages of elementary school teachers
throughout the United States average less than
those Of street cleaners. Mrs. Baker is an ex-
smple Of a large class Of women who have been
leaving The schoolroom for more profitable oc-
eupations during recent years
From fourteen to twenty-three," said she, IT
wa. educated with special reference to the posi-
ton Of g high school teacher, position supposed
to be clothed with all the honor any woman could
ask for I concluded my preparation with
university diploma after nine solid years Of
study to that end. I began at $50 a month. AT
th. end Of eight years L had risen to $1,000
y,ar Seeing that there was more money in
specialization, put a lot Of money into musi-
cal education, and was graduated from a con-
servatory. I got position supervisor OF
musio In the schools Of an Iowa city of 10000
inha bitants. They paid 5000 year. A man
would have had $1,000
IN four years 1 rose to s., 200. But I was
more dissatisfied than ever Comparing my In
ooue with that of men whose preparation had
been no greater than mine. and whom did not
consider to have any more brains 1 was bit
terlv dissatisfied. left the schoolroom. which
has been q lifelong regret to me, for loved
teaching. The next year 1 made superin-
tendent Of the woman's department of this in
surance company for the State of Minnesota, and
my income jumped in year from S1,2oO to
80 400 That was ten years ago, and my ad-
vance financially has been steady and proper
tionate since
al am constantly receiving letters from teach
ers who wish TO go into insurance. L am con-
stantly taking on teachers in the summer, and
every fall some Of them stay with me. refusing
to go back to the schoolroom. The same two
reasons are given by every one of them for de-
sirfng to leave teaching; first, the chances for
an increase of salary are so narrow; second, they
cannot earn enough to save anything.
Mrs Baker took bunch Of letters out Of a
drawer and opened one at random It was an
appeal for an agency from a Michigan teacher.
closing with the words, 81 have had sickness.
and must do something to some money
through the summer" with the must strongly
underscored.
There you have It," said Mrs Baker; "she
doesn't earn enough to pay her doctors bills.
81 wish you'd say for me. too" she concluded.
"that it Is a great satisfaction to feel that no
difference is made between me and the men
holding equivalent positions; that there is no
discrimination against me on account Of sex.
That IS a very grateful sensation to any woman
who has ever taught school"
PITTANcB AFTER NINE YEARS.
DR. Mary E. Emery is another woman who
has left teaching for something more profitable.
There is simply no comparison between the
rewards of teaching and those Of the professions
for woman" said she none at all.
81 taught under particularly easy and favor
able auspices. I was preceptress of the High
School in my own home town. Montpelier. VT.
lived at home, and my father a member
Of the school board L had college diploma
only those of high school and normal school. and
they paid me S720 year from the start That
was Of the high positions of the teaching
world. The salary was small compared with the
salaries of city high schools but the expenses Of
living were very small in town of 4O00 in
habitants Yet a woman who is doing we'll
cOrrespondingly in medicine as was doing in
teaching would be making at least $1,000
"One great cause Of the snallness Of
teachers salaries is the way in which women
crowd into teaching. suppose that in all the
classes pouring out OF high schools. normal
schools and colleges this month. nine-tenths of
all the girls who expect to earn money expect
TO do 1t in the schooiroon. If any one line was
so overcrowded with men. pay would go down
In it"
FACTORY WORKERS PAID MORE.
William McAndrew, principal Of the Girls
Technical High School, is a member of the
National Educational Association committee
that brought out the report
THE Tribune's summary indicates the trend
Of the whole document" said he. when one
reads page after page of the dismal statistics
from all over the country, he begins to feel that
the condition of the educational workers Of the
United States is little less than appalling. Ind
tana, Illinois and other States have been
compelled TO close hundreds Of their schools be-
cause neither men nor women could be found
who would accept the pittances offered. In
many localities there is no more menfal or de-