Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-08
VIENNA PUBLIC SCHOOLS
BAR WOMAN TEACHERS
Whole Question Of Female Employ
ment in Austria Now I'm
der Review.
VIENNA. February 26. 1914

Women have been shut out. tempo
rarily. at least, from any new places III
the teaching stats of the Vienna pubic
schools Theory of unjust discrimina-
ton has been raised and the whole ques-
ton of women's employment in Austria
is under review.
The exclusion Of woman candidates for
teachers in the public schools is taken
by the Vienna city council on the ground
that so few vacancies exist that no
further applications for employment OF
woman teachers will be received until
further notice Nothing is said. now
ever. about man teachers.
Since the population is increasing stead
lily and new schools are constantly re-
quired, the councils action is regarded
as extraordinary. Some trace It to the
agitation among woman teachers TOT pay
on equal terms with men.
At present woman teachers are paid on
a far lower scale than their male col
leagues although they perform the same
work, and have been required 70 20
through exactly the same course OF prep
aration and to take the same e1aniIna
ton as the men. For some time past
at this treatment alleging that nearly
all the best positions in the schools are
reserved for men. The Christian soclal-
list majority in the city council. however:
argues that as women are not heaos OF
families with children dependent upon
them for support they have no claim to
be paid as high salaries as men. Inc
women deny that this has anything te
do with the case. and say that even II ~
had they, too. are often called upon 10
support aged parents or younger ofoeh
ers and sisters.
Women Crowding Out Men.
Throughout Austria the employment Of
women in professional and commercial
occupations is increasing steadily. Young
women are generally willing to work for
lower wages and they are constantly
crowding out the men. Many of the
ticket clerks in the railway stations are
women, and government omces anu
banks are constantly adding women to
their stan.
40 serious has the thrush OF women
into those fields of labor heretofore re-
earded as exclusively masculine become
mat the Austrian ministry of public
works is trying to offset the conse-
uuences by establishing number OF nigi,
schools for instruction in household
economy. The first of these Will DC open,
ed at the beginning Of the next scno noe,
year in September. The curriculum VIII
be especially directed toward training
women in domestic science. to enable
them to occupy administrative POSITIONS
as superintendents or heads OF pubic IN
stitutions. such as hospitals: sanitariuns;
asylums, orphanages. schools. notes anu
boarding houses The course OF hseruc,
ton will extend over three years, ano
will include all kinds Of special classes
as well as evening classes Tor youne
women engaged in earning their living pa
business during the day. II Is cialme r.
that there will not be single supJece IN
the plan of instruction which Will not Dc
of service to future wives and mothers.
The women's employment auestion atse
has been engaging the attention OF tHe
ministry of education and the vienna
educational authorities. Efforts are De
inp. made to keep the children ieavins
school from entering upon blind aIiey
occunations. as so many are doing at inc
present time. An employment counc,
has been organized in Vienna wnicn WI,
keep the public school teachers inIorihee
regarding the conditions OF labor IN VAR,
GUS branches, and it will be the DUTY o.
the teachers to advise the pupils. ano
also the parents. Of the facts. anu =. 80
urge that they be taken Into account ~,
selecting the future occupation OF tne
child. II is hoped that this Will not only
benefit the individual children. oue Wi,
also tend to improve the whole hationa'
economic situation