New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-16
Is Expectant Mothers Fear
Suspension-Prepare to
Fight School Board.
CHARGE MAY BE
GROSS MISCONDUCT
INSTRUMENTATION or Inefficiency
Also Grounds for Withhold
ing Two Years Pay.
BY HENRIETTA RODMAN.


Eighteen women teachers have re-
ported to the city superintendent that
they expect to be guilty Of motherhood.
The penalty for this offence, accord
ing TO the bylaws OF the board, is sus-
pension for two years, without pay.
But the charter forbds the suspen-
sion Of teacher unless he has been
guilty of neglect of duty, insubordina-
ton, general inefficiency or gross mis-
conduct.
Commissioner Finley has decided that
maternity is not neglect Of duty. Our
democratic Board OF Education had
thought it was. Il would be unreason-
able TO consider it general inefficiency.
II must be either insubordination or
gross misconduct.
interviewed an extremely intelli-
gent member of the Board OF Educa-
ton.
81 don't care to be quoted said he.
The wishes of the Board Of Education
are laws to me. so / withhold his name.
We discussed the question Of whether
the introduction of democratic forms
into the public schools would tend to
develop democracy of spirit.
"a wise man in control respects and
stimulates initiative in his subordi-
rates" said he. "If a principal fails
to do this he is not a good man for his
place. If he does it teachers council
could do no more, and might do less"
That sounds reasonable, doesn't it,?
But who is to select the right man
Is he to rule by divine right, or is he
10 be appointed? If the latter, who
appoints the man who appoints him :?
If he is elected, there we are back at
our old democratic institutions again.
IL the "honor system" student self
government, or is it only a system Of
student police and courts?
Whatever it is. Professor B. I. Bald
win. of Swathmore, reports TO the
United States Commi ssioner Of Educa-
tion that l23 colleges and universities
are using it, and that its popularity IS
increasing.
He urges in its favor that it de-
velops initiative and cooperation
among the students, and between stu
dents and college officials.
Pleasanter. | should think, to de-
velop these charming qualities through
some other activities than the detec-
ton Of crime through planning cur
riculum together, for example decld-
ing what they wanted to study and how
they wanted to study it.
There's a suggestion for THE Sun,
perhaps, to develop in the New York
schools. Why not?
The "honor system" is good as far
as it goes, but let's go farther. We
shall as soon as we stop worrying
about our salaries. When, ! wonder
Gardening is becoming a popular
subject in the curriculum Of city
schools" Professor Charles Zuebhn
told me. "a quarter of an acre OF
onions counts one point toward gradu-
alton in Boise City, Idaho.
"Children who work eight hours a
dav for eight weeks in the summer
are given one year Of credit in agri-
culture. They have a suburban aGri-
cultural school. with poultry farm
and thirty acres for the demonstration
of farming. New York might easily
have a school like that on Long Island
or Staten Island" -,
eve have one in The Bronx" said
I. Go to Public School As, and see
fathers teaching their sons on the
school farm. It's fine sight"
MADAM: I am happy to say that |
enjoy your column. Many Of the teach
ers do not. They say that you are not
in sympathy with them in their efforts
20 prevent the passage of harmful leg
islation.
81 agree with you, that, if we are &C
lively interested in community affairs,
we need not fear for our salaries.
"a Just administration will be Just
TO US. Let us do our share toward Sc
curing and supporting the right kind
of officials, and not only we ourselves,
but the whole community, will proft.
81 believe that we should take a
broader view of our responsibilities.
Don't you think that our intense in
terest in our salaries and our compare
tive indifference to new ideals and
methods in education are due to the
repression OF the system?