The Washington herald., 1913-11-23


and praying for promotion. The protests
were more or less silent then, but now,
with another vacancy at hand, the
women are telling why they think they
should be counted as factors in the
principalship of girls high schools.
why Not womens
Perhaps the strongest reason they give
for dissatisfaction over their lack Of
representation higher up is the fact that
il takes from teachers half their ambi-
ton for improvement when they realize
that there is no goal ahead. At least
half the pupils in the city's high schools
are girls and more than half the high
school teachers are women, yet not
woman is chosen as principal; though II
has often happened that a woman was
the logical candidate. Men over all.
where all are boys, is quite fitting. Men
over all. where the schools are mixed
let that pass without much comment.
But men over all, where all are girls
why not women?
They. declare that it is disheartening
to sit back in the shadows to the end
of their teaching days and see only a
scattering few chosen as first assistants
of departments-Only nineteen out of
80. Some of them aspire to become as
sociate superintendents, but not one is
chosen, although two women have risen
to the rank of district superintendents.
With the door closed to their advance
ment in that peremptory fashion, no
matter what their fitness may be, they
say they have a right to rebel and to
question the boards definition of justice.
Because when woman Is thoroughly
ambitious and altogether qualified to pass
along up and when her success with her
pupils, her fitness all around, point her
out as the natural successor to a va
cancy, it takes the heart out Of her ef-
forts to see a man chosen for no better
reason than that the board wants a
man. Perhaps the man, secure in his
position and quite conscious of power,
does not realize how it looks to the
woman, who must be a teacher and
nothing more, although her scholarship
and service qualifications are both salts
factory. But she realizes, rather Bit
terly sometimes; and that is why she
is saying that in the teaching craft
there should be equal opportunities for
advancement. For it is individuality,
rather than sex, that counts in the max
ing of a successful teacher.
enIy Five Women.
But the board decides. And of the
forty-eight members, only five are
women.
II the schools of the city were largely
made up of boys, and IL the teachers
were largely men, then the preponder
ance of men at the head would excite
no comment; but the girls and women
are there, and the same requirements
prevail for all. The only difference
comes when questions of promotion are
in the air. 1t is all very well to take
it for granted that the higher the post,
the greater the need for man and his
services, which seems TO be the attitude
A. - = 1-a11,N
is neither appealing nor comforting to
women teachers who are human enough
to long for the practical fruits of their
labors. They have no desire to take
from men well-earned advancement, but
when they have proved themselves
faithful and competent in the lesser posts
they think il oaly fair to be chosen as
rulers over the larger things once in a
while.
Then, too, they say that in the work
of a girls high school, matters fire.
quently arise which, by right, should be
handled by the principal, but the priu-
cipal, a man, thinks a woman better
adapted to deal with the girls, and he
calls upon a teacher for adjustment.
And why, they ask, should there be all
that roundabout method, when a woman
principal could do all the work that be-
Ionged to her in controlling the activi- |
ties. ideals, and administration of the
school?
They look on and see methods carried |
out that. viewed through their eyes, seem
very impractical; but these women with
their long experience, and their nature in
accord with that of the girls, have moth
ing to say about the policy of the school.
And apart from the disheartening ele-
ment that comes through lack of pro-
motion, they count it not fair to the
girls.
Take VI for Granted.
Because things have grown that way,
down the many, many years, it is rather
natural that school boards and other |
folk who have the last word to say about |
promotions, the filling of high places and |
the like, should take it for granted that |
men were born for the ascendancy.
But things sometimes have a habit of |
growing a false way, and altogether too |