New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-04
new BOARD FOR
TEACHER MOTHERS
Efficiency Held To Be All
with Which Education
Body Is Concerned.

Mayor Mitchell would say nothing
yesterday TO give any color to the
rumors that Thomas w. Churchill
would not be reelected TO the presi-
dency of the Board of Education be-
cause he had voted against leaves Of
absence for teacher-mothers.
81 believe that Mr.. Churchill now IA
vors giving long absences to teacher
Mothers said the Mayor. 81 feel
that Mr.. Churchill has worked very
hard No man is being groomed for
president of the Board of Education"
The Mayor added that he had not
asked the new appointees their views
on the teacher-mOther problem, but
made a point to see that they all we're
in favor Of vocational and Industrial
schools. President Churchill has
worked hard in the establishment of
such schools, and Mayor Mitchell appre-
ciates It,
Referring to his desire that mem
bership of the Board Of Education be
materially reduced by legislative enact
ment the Mayor said he favored an
unpaid board if members could be
found to attend to their duties, and he
thought that would be possible.
The new members Of the board
spoke more freely yesterday about
their convictions on the teacher
mother subject. A sense Of propriety
prevented them from celebrating on
their convictions Wednesday, because
they had not yet been officially in
formed of their appointments. The
majority, however, admitted they were
in favor OF the reform.
Mrs. Helen st. Clair Mullan, a law
yer and graduate of Barnard College,
said that she thought the welfare of
the schools demanded that good teach
ers should be retained
"Almost any reasonable excuse for
absence ought 10 be accepted" she
said. Surely il is as reasonable to
give leave of absence for childbearing
as for trip to Europe or TO care for
an aged father.
"a teachers efficiency" she added.
ais the only thing with which the
Board Of Education has any concern.
Her children are her own affair. | do
not say that | am in favor of any par
ticular scheme which is before the
board at the present moment, because
| am not familiar enough with the
cases involved. Each case must be
settled on its merits, with the welfare
of the schools as the aim in mind"
Miss Mary Drier said, "You know
am in favor of the teacher-mothers."
Paul Fuller took Mayor Mitchell as
his guide in the matter THE Mayors
point of view is the right one" he said.
"The efficiency of the schools is the
thing concerned, and he doesn't see
how granting this leave of absence
will hurt the schools any. OF course
there are probably two sides TO the
question, and it wouldn't be right to
take a definite stand on the terms OF
the new rulings until | had made q
careful study of the whole subject
but, in general, I'm for it,"
Louis Heaton Pink said that he had
always been in favor of granting leaves
of absence TO teachers for this purpose
Other members were less sure about
their convictions, but, in general, the
sympathy is all on the side of the
teacher-mother. In this connection, il
is interesting to note that every one
Of the members of the board who were
retired voted against Mrs. Lora NJ
Wagner when the matter last came up
for action.