Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-06-23

he has II In his power to dismiss. to
employ. 10 move teachers like pawns
In his local unit-yct how seldom IL he
Il man tand why not sometimes Il
woman?) who has proven his worth az
a teacher OF long service? How few
OF them know the real hardships OF n
teachers life. Just where the difficult
ties are. the daily drudgery and the
struggle OF existence? personally
know TWO men. each superintendent
OK an Important unit one OF whom
taught one year and was less than
twenty Ave years OF age the other had
taught two years. and least said the
.ttcr
For the sake nf Justice. let us COM
par. the way teacher gets her lob"
with tho way her boss" gets his:
The average Young girl who wants "a
place" b:n"'s her qualifications. and
c!thef has TO take 4 State examination
10 Get Il certificate to teach y. have 1,
diD.o'':a from standard r,rmsl or
c".l-sc THY IS not Di.. IN. In. 20
keHp herself l. good s,dnl'ns 10y az
tcnr'nS summer schools. Il, NJ IN, re-
'u;ic'i "eniit.2 and also T.. e, su:csss
ia tic "T,n:o1 ~ the sup -rirt.udent
and principal. When the Supcrintcu-
hcnt wants Job he goes at 1t In a
political way. having some citizens
back him up" for "appointmcnt."
There is not reputable girl in Vir-
Sinia. | VIII venture TO say. who could
not get just as many good citizens to
back her up" for a place too. IL it
were allowable. and they would not
hesitate TO state that she was u,rAli-
tied either ! am glad we do not get
teachers in this way. but why is the
sauce for the gander made so much
stronger FOR the goose?
have been much interested In the
objections ! have heard to lettering
the conditions for teachcrs-most OF
them Cfrom male school onicials) are
that perhaps there would not be money
enough Tor the men IL the women go,
more. that men would be hard 10 re,
II they were not better paid than
women and practically did not ge, the
most rapid advancement (also most
ienicnt judemcnD. 1t looks at present
as II We soon Will be crying for women
ana after al! they are the back bone OF
the education OF children If men
won't work for what women have to
i've their lives on, and support others
too, let them find a factory that will
pay fresh, unframed labor the same
mat II pays its oldest most expert
enced hands. or a factory that will take
them out OF college in the raw state
ana set them to telling It's old work.
ers now 10 do things and pay them
we'll for tn teilinG-and maybe there
wont be strike" in that factory.
In conclusion. will nit be millennium
when our school system shall be gov
crned by a board OF business directors
with every school unit a department
under It's thumb. one policy all
teachers classified as to work, ef-
uci"ncE and pay. an equalization that
would not allow underpay anywhere
In the state, or overpay either. or that
would allow "ineiiiciency" TO be trans-
terred as efficiency" That this
board shall keep the teachers records
tand not spend so much time in chas-
ing up and changing their old teach
crs' ccrtificates). that positions may be
based on these records and positions
hiled from information here. Let the
board govern much as Il big univer-
sity is governed with all it's schools
making 1t. Let the board work for the
hiSher education of women. and not
Just say so--that women may not he
handicapped by sex when they fairly
win promotion by fitness and service
II may be millennium. but only then
shall all see harmony in the school
Instead OF discomfort and restlessness.
as to-day.
! am speaking for many thoughtful
teachers and ex-tea cheers. now in other