New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-11-01

No exhibition of the conservatism
or inertia--of ofIicialiom has so
aroused the progressive element OF
womanhood in years as has the atti-
tude of the Board of Education in
forbidding married teachers 10 become
mothers, under penalty of losing their
places. 1t is regarded as erecting a
barrier against that which women are
demanding right TO their chosen
work without Welding woman's natural,
normal experiences in life. The highest
court of the state has said that the
Board of Education had the power TO
maintain this attitude if it cared to
do so. As a result various women's
organizations Of large influence have
begun a systematic campaign to bring
the Board of Education to a change OF
front.
Miss Fola La Toilette, one of the
leaders in the broad movement for
"womans rights" which has come TO
be termed feminism, is one of those
engaged in this campaign. Discuss
ing for The Tribune the situation
which has caused Mrs. Wagner, a
Staten Island teacher about TO become
a mother, to continue teaching up "a
the limit of her endurance rather than
to lose her place, Miss La Toilette
voiced bitter criticism of the Board
of Education.
"Our school system is intended TO
be the best possible instrument for
spreading education" said this ardent
feminist, who is herself a married
member of the women workers con-
tingent. Teaching is a great gift.
believe the best teacher Is born, not
made, and when found should be kept
in spite of age, sex and offspring.
THE Board Of Education IN dis
charging women teachers Of proved
value ,ecause they desire to bear chill
drep is sadly illogical. The constant
complaint regarding women teachers Is
that they take up this work as a mere
stopgap between their own school
days and matrimony. IL Is argued that
they are inferior to men because men
go into teaching as lifework, where
as women teachers seldom have that
point of view regarding it. Neyerthe-
less, the great number of school teach
ers are women, and so long as any
thing like the present rate of pay is
maintained they will be. II women
are 10 teach the children of the coun-
. n.y. must AutF Ut lBlNtu DAs VI TIC
schools Just as soon as they show
themselves human enough to want 10
encounter the finest and greatest eX-
perience of womanhood?
as the Board Of Education short
sighted enough 20 believe it 10 be a
good thing for the schools, the school
children, the school teachers which
means for the community-to enforce
celibacy in this body of young wom-
en-? The great reproach Of women
taught schools is that they are making
the children weaklings, effeminate
What is objected % is not the influence
Of good, true, broad women, but the old
maidishness which accompanies the
celibscy which seems 20 be the aim OF
the Board of Education.
Perhaps ! am wrong in believing
that this estimable body Of men be-
lieves in celibacy for the healthy, nor
NAL young women who become school
teachers here. Yet promotion is de.
MED 20 those who marry, and mother
hood is banned 90 those hardy ones
who do marry IN spite of that. Does
the Board Of Education desire TO pro.
mote illicit sexual relations among the
teachers? Is II possible that It's mem
bers are ignorant enough of life 70
think that that is not the inevitabl,
tendency of its policy? Would q
loose-liying unmarried teacher b.