The Washington times., 1915-03-26
Conference on Married. Teacher
Question viii Decide Mea-
sures To Be Taken.
MAY CIRCULATE PETITION
Mrs. P. P. CIaxton Declares
That Mothers Make Very
Best Teachers of All.

A petition to be circulated by club
women among parents of school chill
dren asking for the repeal Of rule 45."
which automatically retires women
teachers when they marry, is one plan
to be considered at this afternoons con-
ference at the Ebbitt on the married
teacher question.
Such petition. Mrs. Ellis Logan,
president of the District Federation Of
Women's Clubs, said today. may be
deemed more effective than a public
mass meeting. But the decision about
the method Of procedure will be reached
by, those who attend todays conference,
Mrs. Logan said.
To Be Open Meeting.
This conference is to be an open
meeting Mrs. Logan continued. "and
all persons interested in the question.
no matter which side they take. will be
welcomed. Several representative wom-
en- already have accepted the invitation
TO attend These include Mrs. Emma S.
= Shelton, president of the District w. 9.
r. u: DR.. Elnora Folkmar, and Dr.
Cora Smith King"
states Commissioner of Education, her
self a former teacher, and now proml-
nent writer and worker In women's 8
club movements, said she regretted she
might not be able to attend the meeting
this afternoon
But anv movement to break down
barriers against women teaching IN
schools has my heartiest sympathies,
Mrs. ClaXton said.
Schools Need Married Women.
1.-THE schools need married teachers
Tlfey need them because married womer
mako better teachers, and mothers make
The best teachers OF all. I have chile
three months old and ] feel that, wher
I regain my strength, I would make 6
better teacher than l would have beer
before mothers sympathies arr
broader. She is fitted, in every way
better to deal with children.
There is an equally good social ant
economic reason why women shoul'
teach after marriage. Many men ge
comparatively small salaries. If the!
wish to marry, and have home. ant
marry woman who has an earning ca
pacity, there Is no reason why tina
woman should cease her productive
work.
Too Few Good Teachers.
There are too few good teachers to
day If woman can teach she shoult
be- encouraged to continue. She will b.
better teacher, and II her husband
income Is small, she will help make {
better home"
Mrs Louis F. Post. whose name als'
appeared as one of the committee. salt
she could not be present this afternoon
Mrs. Logan said there was grea
uIIanimity of opinion among club womel
about the married teacher question, tina
all club women to- whom she had talke,
believed strongly that Rule 45' shoul
he repealed, and that no other reaso
than her efficiency should be consider
ed in allowing teacher to continue he
work.
Mrs. Mussey FavOrs Rule.
Mrs. L. S. Mussey, announced as on
of the speakers to advocate the aboli
ton of "Rule 49," said she had not beel
invited to be present, and that she be
leved the rule should stand.
"For six years l was on the Boar
of Education" she said, "and then
believed the rule was a good thing, an
| still do. Though I have asserted
believed women'S rights should be Simi
lar to those of men, ] believe, in tn
present question. the home should b
the first consideration.
Il do not believe a continuance o
teaching is possible for wife VIII
proper attention to her chil1ren | d
rot feel any injustice is being don
Washington women by the existence O
this rule. If | spoke on the subject a
all I should advocate the retention @
the rule"