Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-09-25
Referendum Proposed on !"
The Married Teacher Question

in the Washington school system he
cause of the large supply and re.
stricted demand for teachers Their
teacher pay in Washington In higher
than in many other communities.
There is likewise the social prob
lem. and along with it a lot OF what
a good many solid citizens will be in
clined to call bunk. 1t is a fact more
or less firmly established that the
socalled lower classes are the busiest
at the task of having children. and
that the ratio OF large families is
inversely proportional to the ability
Of the parents to raise the children.
Therefore, that class OF humanity
from which the supply OF teachers. is
drawn should raise children. Q. f. y.
The theory is that what the world
needs Is more children from this class,
and fewer from the others. But the
married teacher who attempts TO full.
FIJI her duty by having children and
teaching too is also susceptible 10
further attack. The complaint is made
that she cannot raise her own chill
dren and teach other peoples children
at the same time. She is. therefore
automatically placed in the POSITION
of neglecting either her own children
or somebody elses children, either or
both OF which, of course, is highly
reprehensible.
In addition to the theories concern
ing married teachers, there Is an &C
tual administrative problem. Last
Spring there were some 90 teachers
on maternity leave. Some of them
after one maternity leave has expired
go on second maternity leave. Their
places must be kept open for them in
the schools, and when they return
their substitutes are often thrown out
of employment. With the number Of
students constantly increasing. this
problem has not been as serious as it
may become when the yearly number
OF school children remains more or
less fixed. But the number of married
teachers is constantly increa sing
Those agitating for the removal ~
married teachers want the old rule
re-established which called for the au-
tomato separation of teachers from
the service upon marriage. This rule
was overturned by a court decision
but the decision has since been inter.
preted in some quarters as not infring-
ing on the power Of the Board Of Edu-
cation to lay down its own policy
The opponents OF married tea chers
would retain those now on the rolls
but would prevent teachers from mar.
rying and remaining hereafter in the
service.
While agitation against married
teachers has been active. it is a mat
ter of serious doubt as to whether II
VIII get anywhere. Some of the best
teachers in the service are married.
i 70 nf hAlinr.AI
social aspects of the question are seri-
GUS to the extent of building strong
public sentiment which in turn will
force the Board of Educatio to change
It's policy. One may easily ina CINE
the tremendous rumpus on the part
OF those dedicated to rumpus making
should Washington Board of Edu.
cation see fit, in this day and age, 10
discriminate against woman because
she is married. Congress would hardly
have the temerity to Law down a rule
against the married women. IL Con.
gress were asked to do so. The Gov.
eminent departments have never done
II openly-they would hardly dare In
the civil service examinations there is
no consideration Of whether the ap-
pllcant is married or single. Sex. as
a matter of fact, is considered onlv
When specifications for positions cal
Tor man or woman. The question
of appointments is an Administered tive
one for each department or indeuend-
ent establishment to decide. Other
things being equal, 1t is understood
that single women are generally pre
ferred because of the matter of d,
ylded interest between home and work
But no Government department hal
yet openly laid down the policy of sep.
arating women from the service be.
cause they are married. The cabinet
officer who inaugurated such a policv
would deserve the heartfelt SYMPATHY
OF his critics. There are so manv
clea ner. nicer ways of effacing ones