The Washington times., 1915-04-17
Married Teacher Matter Will
Not Be Buried in Committee,
Says School President.
MANY ARGUMENTS HEARD
Boards Stand Is Called Back
ward Step, Against Public
Policy and Good Morals.

Rule 45' will be considered by the
entire Board of Education at an early
meeting instead OF being referred to a
committee
This announcement was made today
by Henry P. Blair, president Of the
board, following the presentation Of ar
euments by a group Of clubwomen and
civic workers for the repeal Of the rule,
at its meeting last evening.
IT simply took the attitude Of the
board yesterday to mean that 1t did
not wish the matter referred to COM
mittee again." said Mr.. Blair. Whether
1t will come up at the next meeting or
at the May meeting cannot tell"
Consideration of the matter Of married
women teachers by the entire board is
considered virtual victory by those
who made the pleas yesterday after
noon. In opening the arguments Mrs
Ellis Logan requested the matter again
be considered. but mot by the rules
committee that rendered an adverse re.
port after keeping the matter in abey.
ance for five months"
Speak For Resolution.
Miss Ellen Marshal Rugg read the
resolution passed at a mass meeting
and Mrs. Albert N. Wood. Miss Mary
O'Toole. Mrs. Clara Bewick Colby, Mrs
Mary Brennan. and Charles e. Vroo'
man spoke in behalf of it.
''All we ask is that women be icon-
sidered as human beings, and not as
sex beings" said Mrs. Brennan. "HoW
compelled to give up your practice OF
law, your business, or you, Mr.. Thurs
ton, your superintendency, simply be-
cause you married?"
The boards stand was chara cterized
by Mrs. Colby as a backward step. and
as premium upon inefficicncy.
Against public policy. against gcod
morals, and unfair discrimination on
account Of SEX" We're Miss Mary
OToole's characterizations of Rule 45. -
1T Is complained that married women
would shut out normal school gradu-
ates." she said. 1.-The community al
ready has educated these girls and II
should not feel under obligations to en-
ploy them.
Marriage Less Desirable.
Marriage is becoming increasingly
less desirable. The time is not far of
when women will have to be lurcd into
matrmony. And it is time to take down
the bars against marriage"
Mrs. Wood made the point that the
most important work of woman as
mother Is that of teaching.
Charles F. Vrooman inveighed agains
class legislation" seemingly not awar,
ried women teachers. but that the onl,
bar Is a rule of the Board of Edhcation
He made a fervid plea for the equality
of sexes and announced. II stand here
rs Bible scholar to announce that yol
cannot find, from Genesis to Revelation
authority for this interdict agains
women
He said the recent sermon preached
by the Rev. DR.. c. Everest Granger de
defending Rule 45'' was mot logic anc
not rhetoric" and termed it "a fallac,
from Dan to Beersheba through which
I could drive a span of horses"
President Blair thanked the delegation
for appearing before the board. Schoo
officials. including S. e. Kramer, as,
sistant superinte ndent: A. r. Stuart
superintendent of intermediate instruc.
tfon: Miss Elizabeth V. Brown superin.
tendent OF primary instructions; Miss
Flora Hendley, supervising principal
and James F oyster. former president
OF the hoard, were present.
When the question Of "Rulc 45'' was
presented to the board for considera tior
there was prolonged silence. The board
then adjourned.