New-York tribune., 1913-06-26
COWARD|CE CHARGED IN
TEACHER-MOTHER CASE
Or. Vile Takes Board OF Edu-
cation TO Task for POStpon-
ing PeixOtto Action.
WON'T ACT TILL SEPTEMBER
Defender, Only Member Present
Opposed to Woman's Dis
missal, Presents a
Minority Report.

The Board Of Education was declared
p,,iItv Of moral cowardlce by DR.. Ira 5.
Vile yesterday afternoon, when mo-
ton 10 postpone action until September
on the case Of Mrs. Bridget c. Peix-
otto was adopted. The committee on
elementary schools had recommended
her dismissal on the charge of neglect
Of duty, her absence being due to the
cares of motherhood.
Nov is the time to discuss this mat
ter" said DR.. Vile. who was the only
member Of the committee opposed 10
the recommendation TO dismiss Mrs.
Peixotto. "As a matter of fairness.
decency and fair play it should be con-
sidered at once. This board has placed
itself in a peculiar light before the
public II is guilty Of moral cowardice
in deferring action until September"
The motion to take it up later was
made by DR.. Mcdonald. who said that
Abraham Stern, chairman Of the COM
mittee, and others interested were
away.
Many women were present, il being
fully expected that there would be
definite stand taken in the case.
Mrs. Peixotto was suspended on
April 22 and charges preferred against
her by District superintendent Tay-
lor She had absented herself from
school from February 3 to the time of
the suspension. on July II she was
found guilty of neglect Of duty by the
committee on elementary schools.
Against Married Teachers.
The situation regarding married
women in the schools was intensified
yesterday by a resolution offered by
General George W. Wingate that the
marriage of female teachers should be
prohibited.
DR.. Vile submitted a minority report
in the Peixotto case, and declared that
while publicity had been given the ma
jority report his had been apparently
shelved.
"Our first and main function" says
the report, lis the welfare and educa-
ton of the pupils" Teaching effici-
ency, II is held, is not necessarily i'm
paired by the fact that woman is
mother Continuing. the report says:
AT the present time throughout the
United States Az per cent of the teach
ing force in schools and colleges are
married women. The percentage in our
own school system is by careful in
vestigation found to be less than i per
cent.
Opposed to Double Incomes
Apparently there is some objection
to the fact that a double income is
enjoyed. This obviously is not mat
ter for the Board of Education TO con-
Germ itself with. Until the Board of
Education goes into the economic af-
fairs Of all it's teachers to ascertain the
sources Of family income it is not
proper TO discriminate against nor op-
pose the actions of those who choose 10
have double source Of income. 1t
might be suggested that the wives OF
many of the male teachers are also oc-
cupied in gainful occupations; that we
are not at liberty to suggest that their
wives cease their earnings"
Sex was interjected into another
matter considered by the board-:he
election of three district superintend-
ents. Men were appointed, despite a
letter of protest from the Interborough
Association Of Women Teachers.
Mr.. Gillespie introduced a resolution
to have a committee OF five appointed
by the president 10 consider in future
all nominations. There was some talk
Of this being decided ON at a secret
tuesday evening meeting, and finally
there was a charge that lobby ex-
listed. Mrs. Kramer took occasion also
to say that women were not having a
fair chance before the board in mat
ters Of appointment. THE Board OF
Education should be half women and
half men," she continued.
The resolution was adopted. there be-
ing only two votes against II.
IMPERAT0R CHEATS FOG