New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-11-13
Woman to Teach, Despite
Censure for Mother
Batting" Letter.
mitchell PREDICTS
AID IN STORK CASES
Superintendent Rescinds
Own EdiCt-MrS. WaQ-
ner Plans Fight.


a teacher. on account of her mother
batting" letter to F. p. A. in The Trib-
une. The note which Mr. Maxwell die
tsted in the afternoon to District Su-
perintendent Bsrdwell directed him TO
prefer charges Of characterization and
gross misconduct" against her, but not
to suspend her until receiving further
notice.
This will permit Miss Rodman to con-
tnue teaching and drawing her salary
until her trial before the High School
Committee of the Board of Education.
II was further stated in Dir. Maxwells
Office at the Board Of Education that the
penalty for Miss Rodman's act was not
necessarily dismissal. The punishment
may be fine, suspension for a num-
ber of days, or merely a reprimand.
Fortune-in the form of Mayor
Mitchel-has smiled upon the cause of
the teacher-mother in general. While
it will not help Mrs. Lora NJ. Wagner
in her immediate conflict with the
Board Of Education, it was an indics-
ton of the final victory of the mother
teachers.
Mayor Predicts Aid Plan.
at is my strong impression that the
Board of Education is going TO adopt
policy granting some sort of leaves
of absence to teachers about TO become
mothers said the Mayor yesterday,
after telephone conversation with
President Churchill. "No, / have no
definite information to this effect.
have an impression that the board is
going to adopt a reasonable, wise and
ra ional policy.
"The boards action in preferring
charges against Mrs. Wagner must not
be taken as indicating what its ultimate
disposition of the mater will be.
understand from President Churchill
that no final action will be taken on the
charges until the board adopts its pol
icy. 1t seems TO me that the whole
matter is now being considered in the
proper way. In suspending Mrs. Wag-
rer the Board of Education merely
acted in accordance with its action in
previous cases of a similar nature"
The Mayor has promised TO receive a
delegation from the Feminist Alliance
on Monday.
Mrs. Lora NJ. Wagner continued def
ant yesterday.
81 will 90 back to school Monday"
she said. 81 shall employ a lawyer to
contest the right of the Board Of Edu-
cation to suspend me for ten days alb
sence when my baby was born"
A member of the Board of Education
said that in case Mrs. Wagner persist
ed in defying the board when Monday
comes substitute would be installed
in her school room, and she would sim
ply be informed that she could not
teach there.
DR.. Maxwell's letter TO Superintend-
ent Bardwell referred to Miss Rodman
as Mrs. Henrietta de Fremery.
Miss Rodman Welcomes Row.
This was a reference to one Of Miss
Rodman's early alterations with the
Board OF Education. When she was
married, about a year and a half ago,
to Herman de Fremery, now known as
de Frem, she continued TO use her own
name professionally, and it was not
until the Board of Education made a
formal inquiry that she informed them
Of her marriage. She refused to sign
the name De Fremery TO her pay
checks, and for two months her salary
was held up. Then she was compelled
to yield. Her husband, about six
months ago, adopted the "socialistc
spelling" OF his name, because, as he
said, "De Fremery" smacked of aris-
tocracy.
Miss Rodman said yesterday after
noon after school that she regarded the
action of Superintendent Maxwell in
bringing charges against her on ac-
count Of the mother batting" letter a
joke.
at is amusing she said, when
have been spiritually prepared for
something for so long-I knew they
would get me some time-that it should
come about for so trihing matter.
81 don't mind the fight. My great
grandfather-one of tnem-was Il Revo-
lutonary leade and my grandfather.
Washington ROdman, was an Abolition
ist. There is fighting blood in me-"
Reforms Offered by Teacher.
Miss Rodman has been prominent in
feminist news for several years.
One of her reforms was along the
lines of vocational training, and con-
tanned an attack upon the old disciple
nary studies, especially Latin and
Greek. To-day in Wadleigh High
School there is a homemakers' course,
intended for those girls who are not
interested in Latin, but do like plumb
ing and preserving and dressmaking.
Miss Rodman now is caring for two
adopted children, one a high school
girl and another a four-yearol The
baby is a member of a family of de-
fectives, and it is Miss Rodman's con-
tention that proper bringing up will
overcome hereditary tendencies.
Mayor Mitchell received letters of
oongratulation on his defence Of the
mother-teachers from Mrs. Beatrice
Forbes Robertson Hale. president Of
the League for the Civic Service Of
Women, and from the Rev. John
Haynes Holmes, pastor OF the church
Of the Messiah. Mr.. Holiness letter
was as follows; .,
"The rule TO employ no married
women as teachers in our schools is
comprehensible. The opposite rule, 10
employ married women and grant
them leaves of absence for the purpose
of bearing and rearing children. is
likewise comprehensive. The present
rule. however, which provides for the
employment Of married women, but
forbids such women the privilege OF
motherhood, is not only incomprehen-
sible but positively indecent
Roth Mrs. Hale and Mr.. Holmes Will
l. .rosart az the teacher-mCther mass