The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-11-12
New York Board of Educa-
ton Discharges Teachers
Who Leave Their Work
to Become Mothers.
VOLUNTARY SICKNESS
Teacher Is Suspended and Then
Must Face Charge Of Neglect ;.
Of Duty and Be
Dismissed.

UNITED Press Leased Wire Service
NEW YORK, Nov. 12-On the
ground that she voluntarily placed
herself in position where she was
unable to perform her duties and
therefore should receive no considera
tion." Mrs. Lora NJ. Wagner's suspen
sion as New York school teacher
was formally approved last night by
the board Of education. Mrs. Wag
ner's fault was to bear child weel
ago. She Is only one of severa
driven from their positions in the
New York schools for neglect of duty
in remaining away from their schoo
duties to bear children.
| Mrs. Wagner will now have to stand
trial on the charge OF neglect OF
duty" II the charge Is proven, hel
suspension will be made permanent
Another incident In the fight which is
being wa2ed in school circles over the
teacher-mother question, came today
when the board Of education preferred
charges Of "dfscourtesy and insubor.
dination" against Miss Henrietta Rod
man, teacher in the Wadleigh high
school, and leader in the fight against
the board of education in It's rulings
against teachers who satisfy their
longing to become mothers.
Miss Rodman's INSTRUMENTATION
consisted in writing letter to news
paper, protesting against the attitude
OF the board Of education. The letter
was written to the editor OF humor-
Gus column of the paper It was head
ed Sporting Note" and read, in part:
''Now that the Braves have cracked
under the strain-or haven't they?
and the tennis season is over-won't
You come with me to see the game
OF mother baiting-next one will ,be
played at the hall OF the board of edu-
cation. One side is a majority Of the
board, on the other are two women
each with baby few days old. OBJ
ject Of the game is to kick the moth
ers out Of position.
Mother batting is popular with a
majority OF the board. The game is
rather rough, but like wife beating.
which used to be popular, is played
for the good Of women"
Although the board was overwhelm-
ingly against the teacher-mothers In
their vote last night, several mem.
bers made strong stand in favor OF
| the latter.
Commissioner Vile urged granting
| Mrs Wagner leave Of absence on
! the ground that any woman Is per
forming duty to the state by bear.
ing children.
"Mrs. Wagner has had the courage
to look the board and her pupils in
the face" said Commissioner Vile to-
day. THAT is more than the board
has had courage to do. am ashamed
to serve on board whose actions
place such a stigma on motherhood
This woman, who bore her child seven
days ago, says she will report for duty
Monday. I think it would be a cruel
and inhuman act to bring charges Of
neglect of duty against her.
Commissioner Wiles' statement was
in answer to Commissioner Wilco,
who declared: Leave Is granted tc
persons suffering from illness or acct
dent, but there is clear distinction
between illness over which the suffer
er has no control and a case in which
she voluntarily assumes responsible
ties and which will interfere with the
performance Of her school duties. The
law forbids us to discharge woman
for getting married, but we can dis
charge her for anything in her con
duct which incapicitates her from
working"