New-York tribune., 1905-01-23
ASKS FOR MEN TEACHERS.
Dr. Leip2iger, at Neso-Rochelte
Forum. Speaks of Need.

Especial colleges for women coeducational in
rtitutions and the opening of the professional
schools 10 women all indicate that the day Of
esrkness for women has passed away DR.. II.
al Leipziger told audience of twelve hun
ored yesterday afternoon, who had gathered at
the New Rochelle Forum 10 hear him lecture
on The Extension OF the Uses of the School
houses and Education for Adults" Ex-Mayor
Seth Low presided.
The only danger now would seem TO be that
the desire OF women for education is great
that the student bodies in higher institutions
may be made Overwomanish.' continued the
speaker.
DR.. Leipziger went on to say:
The extension of the schools by the establish
no means the limit That the duty as 10 schools
IS not completely performed when it provides
only for children OF school age is now being
recognized and the establishment of evening
schools. which afford opportunity 10 those whose
education has been limited or 10 those who nave
come TO our shores after school age or 10 those
who. being compelled to work, stin desire TO
continue their Improvement, indicates this fur
ther extension.
The chief item. however in public school
tension, 10 my mind lies in the appreciation on
the part of the public OF what teacher should
be The most important functiOnary in the proper
state OF civilization is the teacher He or she II
SIS who takes the child in his formative period
and shapes him and moulds him for the future
For good III. the teacher is the most enectiNe
social worker. How do we in this country, IN
our rich age and in the time OF our greatest
prosperity regard the teacher2 ! take the fol-
lowing statistics from the latest annual report
of the United States Commissioner Of Educa-
sion: There are 100000 children attending
public schools OF this country. Thirty years ago
80 per cent Of the teachers were men; at present
DC per cent" Is It desirable that the teaching
force of the country should be so largely teml-
11ine7 is not teaching virie occupation: Is
not the training OF the child's mind as worthy OF
the fine intellect the care Of the chid's BODY!
Perhaps the compensation given teachers may
ael the story. From the same report the aver
age monthly compensation for men teachers IN
ahe United States is $40 9S month. and the aV-
ersge monthly compensation for women teachers
$40 so II is that in the city OF New-h ork
and other cities higher rate of compensation
prevails and il is to the credit Of New-York that
the salaries of the teachers do fairly attract
trained men and women so that they can nave
the opportunities Of culture and travel, but New
York is an honorable exception
We may boast Of our organized school system
and OF our great school buildings, but in the
analysis the foundation of the educational arch
is the teacher. In the good old New-England
days IN the Hopkins Grammar School, in New
Haven, there was a rule that all girls should be
excluded. When in 1I66 the town of Medford
did grant the privilege, how did it do it? 1t
voted that the committees have power TO agree
with the schOolmaster TO instruct girls two hours
q dav after the boys dismissed In 1890
1hfs resolution was passed in Gloucester. Mass:
THAT the school shall be open eight hours daily.
end that two hours daily be devoted to the in
struction of females as they are tender and
interesting branch Of the community, but have
been much neglected in the public school in this
town"
The errors OF the past are rapidly being atoned
for by the granting of the most liberal opportu-
mites for the education and training of women.