New-York tribune., 1905-06-25

that staff in life. The fact is that the standard
Of requirements for our teachers is so high that
there isn't any fear of oversupply. No appli-
cant who can meet them remains long on tho
waiting list. AS for the charge that men marry
teachers to be supported by them, why, It may
happen: but the American man isn't Of that
fibre. AS a rule. he resents the thought Of his
wife's having a hand In the breadwinntng ex-
cept as she does SO indirectly by caring for the
home. There's no fear Of creating a pauper
class Of husbands in this country.
But all that side Of the question is one with
which the State has nothing to do; 1t has moth
ing to do with the sentimental plea that the
woman teacher is neglecting her home duties;
all that concerns the State is how she does her
work as a teacher. And here Is the point: The
wife means the mother. is likely to. and q
woman who is bearing the strain OF mother
hood is in no fit condition to go daily to the
classroom and meet the strain Of her response
bilities there She teaches when she is not equal
to it, in which the effect the pupils is
demoralizing, II she breaks down she takes
leave Of absence and q substitute is put in her
place. which is almost as bad; a change Of
teachers always a loss OF time, an inter
ruption; the children have to get used to the
new one. A principal wants teacher who can
be depended on to be regularly at her post, to
keep her health and her poise, and the woman
with family cares is liable to fail us. That is
why 1 believe she should be barred from the
public schools"
When the query put to Miss Aida Will
Jams principal of Public School No. So. in West
2Sth-st, she replied with quotation from the
Bible Where your treasure is there will your
heart be Also" she said. 'It is not possible for
a mother, one with little children at home, TO
bring that undivided attention to the school
room for which good teaching calls. 1 know
there's an accepted theory or tradition that a
woman who has babies Of her own must love and
understand all children better than the woman
who has never been mother-that the expert
ence somehow miraculously puts her in SYM
pathy with all child life. Even II that were so,
it isn't the overhowing sympathy that makes
the valuable teacher. I want a teacher with
good average amount Of heart. but care espe-
cially about the quality of her head.
THE theory is mistake, however. For mother
hood means an intense devotion to ones own.
That is what makes the mother 80 useful as
mother and useless frequently as anything
else. Yes the objection TO married women IN
the schools is not on the of marriage, but
Of maternity. There's reason why husband
should stand In the way Of teachers doing
her duty unless he insisted on her going into the
kitchen and cooking for him when she ought TO
be preparing next days lessons. The late rule
shutting out all married women excluded some
who were as free and able to teach as any SPINS
Ter but better that than the complications
which ensue from their unqualified admission.
I suppose that from a Rooseveltian standpoint
mine is a perverted attitude. but I don't feel
that race suicide is q danger we need fear. There
are always children enough. bless their little
hearts. We have more than fifty thousand OF
them on haIf-tine here IN New-York now"
One of the principals who stand for the other
side OF the question Is Miss Katherine Blake