Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-06-23
WHY WOMEN TEACHERS
ARE LEAVING SCHOOLS
Slight Chance for Promotion and
Better Pay in Virginia's Edu-
CatiOnal System.
DISCONTINUED AND uNmApr,
Not Quitting Their Jobs Through
Lack of Patriotism, hut Because
They Are Denied Chance To De-
vclor-NIen Given Preference.

To the Editor of The Times Dispatch:
Sir.-Nay I express the views of q
good many teachers. besides myself.
Oh subject we hear much discussed?
y few days ago. az | WAS seated IN the
waiting room OF large department
store ia Richmond. heard two ladies'
speaking very Indignantly of the way
that teachers We're leaving our schools
for other work" This was ahou, the
u-ih time had heard that teachers
were deserving the school system. and
az ] have also heard quite recently
from school superintendent, in AN
address that teachers were not pa
u.otic in SO doing and ;ts | read in the
papers that Virginia is :. sufferer al
the hands of these teachers. as well az
some other States. ! took Il quiet
hour" :or meditation. then | compared
notes with other cx-tcachcrs. and am
prepared to state our reasons" as TO
why teachers are deserving tho school
ranks.
In the beginning. allow me 20 say.
please. that there Is not a personal
allusion made ia this article nor is
there one of us who did not leave uu-
der some protest. Personally. I hold
n certificate in force. and nave had no
misunderstanding with any one con-
nected with the school system and hold
no personal grudSc. OF course. there
must he dissatisfaction Of some form
prevalent hut teachers feel in no POSI-
ton 10 bring about any change, we
lack unity, organization and. for want
OF a better word. am going to say
leverage We can't get anything or
anywhere. It's simpler to get out
Having made general statement. I
am going TO be specific. hoping not to
be misunderstood. There is only kind
ness for those OF the male gender
whom may chance to hit and If they
are fair minded they may put them
selves in our place and perhaps viii
agree with US. in a great deal anyway.
The '!aity' may call these specific
statements grievances" II there were
no grievances We would be all so happy
in our wok that we would no; wan;
TO leave ii. at least most of us would
for the teachers ] quote have taught
upwards OF from five to fifteen years.
and he"n successful too This new
period. uphcaval. Of Industry has sim
ply made the loopholc: il has not been
the cause
Women teachers are quite humal i.
some have ambition, some have eXecu-
tive ability TO n marked dcgree-anl
oh. errors Of errors, know it--so:ne
have talents for organization. for dis
cipllnary powers To an unusual degree.
Scho p. the desire to progress. 10
hc appreciated ard 10 he rewarded. The
most ambitious is under our system.
likely to he exactly In the same cxecu-
:ivc position or position OF authority.
ten years hence as when she starts.
Moreover. ~ hcr seventh or eighth year
She is liable TO walk into her school
building some fine September morn
and find her old pupil, an average boy,
Just fresh from college. her head" 20
be ohcycd. respected. deferred to and
with her rating" TO her employers In
his hands. Her control, loyalty and
also the half-apologctic dcmeanor OF
the boy" as he asks her advice keeps
her well in hand. bat the impression
of injustice is made, and when she has
uuScliishiy trained the boy" In his
duties of principal. the feeling of duty
we'll done Dos not entirely Salvc the
difference in their pay rolls. hers being
much The smaller. II one is dispose
Z" say That tGis is an exception. n.
least II exists. has happened TO me and
two other teachers Know in two diff
fevcnt parts Of Virginia. What l mean
this TO illustrate Is that there Is no
future IN the school system for the
woman teacher, Il matters not what
her intellect, training or other quail
ttcationS. Sh" Is pat in a niche called
teaching position. and there she stays
until she mrrrieS. dies or is pensioncd.
or. as to-day the movement has begun,
shc gets another position. OF course.
she MAY change schools. rooms or text
books and probably changes principais
every few years. m some cities she
may be principal herscl: in some
grammar school. This is ali twenty
hve rich years Of service and value 10
her State. may bring her.
suppose tho women want a raise in
salary, just 10 keep up with the men"
wha; + the usual procedure: am
giving some personal experience. and