Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-07-21
Question Whether Marriage Prevents
Woman From Doing Her Best
Work in Schools.
SAY FIGHT ENCOURAGES
RACE SUICIDE IN COUNTRY
War Waged on Women Teachers Who
Are Married Not Move in Right
Direction Is Claim.
BY CARLTON TEN EYCK.
written for the United Press

New Yorh, July 21-Does marriage
and motherhood Interfere with wo-
mans efficiency as a public school
teacherf That is the question
now agitating the New York board Of
education, and many civic bodies
throughout the Greater City have
taken the problem up. The question
has become such a burning issue that
the other day $50 men and women,
teachers, lawyers, writers and ae.
tresses, formed themselves into a
League for the CIVIC Service of Won.
en-, which will in the fall begin an ac.
tive campaign in tho interests of mar.
ried women teachers.
The argument started when Mrs.
Katherine c. Edgell, member of the
Erasmus High School faculty, formally
applied to the board of education for
a years leave of absence without pay
for the purpose Of bearing and rearing
a child. The board, after considerable
debate and deliberation, refused Mrs.
Bdgell's request.
The newspapers and periodicals got
hold of the Story and gave it much
space, arousng discussion throughout
the city. Fuel was added to the flame
when Mrs. Bridget c. Peixotto, a
Bronx teacher, was suspended indefi.
nitely for staying away from school to
give birth to baby,
Twenty married teachers attended
the meeting at the Hotel Astor, where
the Leagne fort he Civic Service Of
Women was launched and the move.
ment was indOrsed by the New Math.
ers Club and the Women Lawyers
Club, For many years there have been
married women employed in the public
schools of New York, and from time
to time they have dropped out on sick
leave and have become mothers. The
question never became a public one
until Mrs. Edgell made formal appli-
cation to the board for a years leave
Of absence, giving as her reason her
wish to become a mother. Members
Of the board who opposed Mrs. Ed.
CELLS request for a motherhood vaca.
tion, defend theiraction by saying that
they do not approve of married WON
en- as teachers, They have no obiec
tion, defend their action by saying that
that matrimony lowers the efficiency
Of women as teachers. When they
have home and husband and children
It was argued, the teachers cannot give
their undivided attention to their pu
pills and their school duties,
As an additional argument they poiut
out that the home is the place for tn,
married woman and that she has ne
business out in the world working
when she has teachers job, wher
there are so many single and depend
cnt women who are forced to support
temselyes and who would make capabl,
school teachers.
Those who have taken up the cudge
for Mrs. Edgell and the other married
teachers, say that the attitude Of tn,
board of education is inimical to soci
ETY. and encouraging to race suicide
They also declare that married women
naturally make the best teachers sine,
by the fuller experience in life they
arc better fitted to teach young girl,
or boys and train them for normal
happy lives,
Tango enthusiasts are putting up a
new argument for the pemaueuce Of
the craze, The argument is going the
rounds Of the hotel hall rooms, res.
taronts and by.thc.sca dancing pa.
vilonS Aud Of course it is alwavs
: q charming dehutmte or an equally
Z charming young matrou who advance
! the new reason, The dcyotees Of the
! tango, and especially the proprietor.
I Of the places where It flouhshes hay,
\ become vastly alarmed at the concert.
\ ed attacks made on the American
! uegroid' dances, as they are called
I abroad, and they are seiziug every
plausible argument to boost the gyrat.
I ing dance,
! This is the way they put the latest
I "No dance eau ever replace the tan,
go for, don't You see, It is Just an.
) other name for beauty exercise