New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-10-14
TEACHER MILITANT
OUTLINES FIGHT
Will Stay at Work Till
Doctor Orders Her to
Ask Sick Leave.
TO DEFEND RIGHTS
OF OTHER WOMEN
Mrs. Wagner Appears Before
Glass in Cap and Gown
Board 70 Discuss Case.

Mrs. Lora -. Wagner, the militant
teacher" of German at the Tottenville,
Staten Island. High School, was at
her post yesterday morning half
hour before school opened. The viii
lage hack conveyed her from her home,
at | Aspinwal st. At the school she
dcnned her college gown and was
ready for her class of twenty-ight
girls when they fled in.
Instruction had come from ID. ID.
Fcldman, principal of tho Curtis High
School. of which the Tottenville
school is an annex, that Mrs. Wagner
should be permitted 10 teach If she
presented herself for duty.
Mrs. Wagner, gentle little woman
with blue eyes and wavy brown hair,
intends to fight to the last ditch
against the rules Of the Board OF Edu-
cation.
81 expected to be granted my leave
of absence" she said yesterday. "Any
teacher is allowed ninety days absence
for illness If she accompanies her re-
quest for leave Of absence with tho
statement of her physician that she
is physically unable to perform her
duties. If | remain in school until
the time when my physician will be
obliged 10 make this statement. do
not see how they can charge me with
neglect Of duty.
Personally, don't care what action
they take, because it Is doubtful If |
shall wish to go back 10 school after
my baby is born, but I realize now
that it has been given TO me to make
this fight for the rights Of ell the
Al 1A -
New York.
az shall take my ninety days ab-
sence for illness, and apply for an ex-
tension, saying my health is not suf-
ficiently improved TO warrant my re-
turning to school. If the Board of
Education refuses to grant me further
leave Of absence | shall probably have
to return to school, just for the sake
of the fight. | am strong and well and
can stand il better than most women"
Charles Tucker, who is in charge OF
the annex of the Curtis High School
in Tottenville, said yesterday: Mrs.
Wagner has been one of the most de-
voted and faithful of teachers.
shall take no action until ] receive
formal instruction from the Board of
Education"
Darwin L. Bardwell, district superin-
tendent for Staten Island, said last
night: "Mrs. Wagner is not neglect
ing her duty, and there is no evidence
upon which TO bring charges of i'm
propriety against her"
At a meeting of the Board OF Educa-
ton this morning the case will be dis
cussed.
Mrs. Wagner made public yesterday
letter TO superintendent bardweil IN
reply to his note saying he would be
obliged TO bring charges of neglect OF
duty against her. She wrote IN part:
"You say that the policy Of the Board
CT the state, will compel you to take
action against me. should ! remain
away from school. I shall not remain
away from school. but shall continue TO
teach until such time as my own physi-
clan and the physician retained by
the Board of Education shall consider
me sufficiently i'll to remain away from
school without subjecting myself TO
the odious charge of neglect OF duty,
Charles s. Wagner, husband OF the
teacher militant, is a German citizen OF
two years residence in this country.
He is a chemist, employed as private
secretary 70 the president OF the Roess.
Ter & Hasslacher Chemical Company, OF
Perth Amboy, n. j.
Mrs. Wagner, who is about twenty
seven years old, is the daughter OF
Methodist minister of Richmondville,
n. Y, where her early life and the first
seven years Of her professional career
were passed. She was graduated from
Teachers College in 1909. She taught
two years in the Ethical Culture High
School, and three years in the puollc
rchnols of New York City.