The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-10-13
REJECTS NEW PLEA
OF TEACHER MOTHER
Supt. Maxwell Refuses Leave N
Wife Of German Re-
servist.
WOMAN'S LEAGUE IN FIGHT

Another case of teacher-mother vcr.
sus the Board of Education has come IN
recently in one OF the boroughs Of NV
York city. 1t already has come to- t.,
attention OF the League for civic $, p.
vice OF Women, of which Mrs Boa'r,,
Forbes Robertson Hale is pres ideut u.a
Miss Henrietta Rodman vicr.pr, ~G,...
The league has taken w the case co..
is sending out a pamphlet, which su}s.
THE Court of Appeals permits ,h, B..il
OF Education to force out Of the ul'
schools the women teachers who b,.....
mothers. We ask you to come to tIr ...
fence OF your sisters who are strbggl f
10 retain the most primitive right. ~
women--to work and to bear chilur,a
The case Is that OF a teacher In uus
Of the high schools who was married a
little over year ago. Her husband
Is a reservist in the German army and
is liable at any time to be called INTO
active service. She herself was a grad.
uate Of the Teachers College and taught
in the Ethical Culture School two years
before taking her present position, which
she has held for three years without n
days absence. In September she applied
for a years leave OF absence to bear a
child and returned home to prepare for
her baby. which Is expected in Novem-
Der
The appeal was Endorsed by tho prin-
cipal OF her school and sent to Supt.
william II. Maxwell. by whom II was
refused. AT the same time she received
q personal letter from her district superin-
tendent urging her to resign at once. To
this she replied:
LET me thank you for your kindness in
| presenting my case before the board and
let me present to you my side or the
matter. OF course / realize that should
no longer be In school and that is why I
Ia, al M ahgqnCa II addeh
re responsibilities come upon us as a result
of the war I would prefer to meet my
share by doing the work In which | have
been so long interested. My pupils havs
been faithful and respectful as usual and
have done their work with enthusiasm.
| Ny fellow teachers have been kindness It.
| self and have asked no favors, but have
| done my work as usual and enjoyed Il.
| OF course I do not desire annoyance or
notorety. but think l should be willing
to do my share to make place for
mothers In tho public schools OF New
York"
This refusal to surrender permanently
her profession brought the following re-
Spouse from the district superintendent:
II have received your frank and
courteous letter and shall find It necessary
to prefer charges against you for neglect
OF duty and to suspend you under the by
laws. You will understand the reason for
my action. The policy OF the Board OF
Education. supported by the courts OF the
state Of New York. will compel me. much
as | regret II. TO take action against you
If you remain away from school"
Rather than lose her position per-
manently she returns this morning 70
school, to remain until compelled 10 leave
by the physicians orders. II she remtiU7
absent for the Tearing OF a child she
is liable to be charged with neglect OF dIfF
and barred out forever from the prot q
sion for which she is trained. what a"-
ton the Board of Education will take
remains TO be seen when she returns TO
her post this sornIng.