Evening star., 1927-05-24
MARRIED TEACHER
OPPOSITION FADES
School Board Organization
Delegates Find Competence
First Requisite.

are in no wise opposed to having mar
ried women teach their children If
statements made and applause reg
istered by 800 representatives of va
rious associations gathered in the au-
ditorium of the Franklin School Build
ing last night may be taken as cri-
terion.
The representatives, most of them
either presidents or Chairmen of
school committees of their various or
ganizations, were called for the con-
ference on the married teacher ques-
ton by members of the Board of Edu-
cation who sat with them and listened
intently to their reaction over the per-
picking problem.
While occasional attacks were made
against the presence of married teach
ers in the school system most OF
those who INDUCED in the symposium
on the question argued there are no
reasons why married women should
not be continued as teachers so long
as they are competent.
Not Active at Meeting.
DIR. Frank w. Ballou, superintend-
ent, at the outset of the meeting,
which was presided over by Mrs.
Lillian y. Heron. vice president, in
the absence of Charles +. Carusi,
president, reminded the representa-
tives that it was not the purpose of
the meeting to hear arguments for
or against the married teachers, but
merely to familiariZe them with all
the angles of the question in order
that they can take it up intelligently
with their associations and obtain ac-
ton to be forwarded to the Board of
Education for it's information.
DIR. Ballou told the delegates in
attendance at the conference that the
married teacher question was not q
simple one, but a broad and compre-
hensive question considering a great
number of teachers. He said that
from hurried statistics compiled yes
terday it is evident there are nearly
500 married women now in the school
system, or approximately 80 per cent.
He also said there are so school
teachers at the present time on ma
ternity leave.
After a number Of the representa-.
tives had evidenced their unqualified
Willingness for married teachers to
continue to teach in the schools, Mrs.
w. l. SWanton, representing the Co.
lumbia Heights Citizens Association,
won quite few adherents by caus-
tlcally attacking the married woman
teacher in the school,
Charges COmmercialism.
Declaring that the question was pri-
mar1ly a moral one, Mrs. Swanton
contended that teaching school and
presiding over a household was en-
tlreiy too strenuous an undertaking
Tor woman. She said she had found
that married teachers teach only for
their salary and not with their heart
IN 1t, as do those who are unmarried.
ohe 1urther said that men marry
teacners and then let them go ahead
ana teach and support them, a situa
ton which she stamped as demoraIiz.
ing.
Representatives Of the Barry Farm
Citizens Association reminded thew
had voiced opposition to married
teachers on previous occasions. They
SAID they believed the single girls
should be given chance to get teach.
ing positions, which are not at all
plentiful at the present time.
1t was made plain by DIR. Ballou in
MS general statement at the confer.
ence that the Board of Education has
initiated the present ascertainment of
puplc opinion on the married teacher
question merely because, certain or.
ganizations have petitioned them
relative to it, and that the board
members themselves are of an open
mind and ready to follow the lead
taken by the various organizations.
Questions Given Delegates.
In closing the meeting, DR.. Ballou
supplied each of the representatives
with list Of nine questions for them
to submit to their respective associa.
tions, and reminded them that the
board will take no action until they
have had ample time to act on them.
The questions follow:
l. Should married women be ad-
mitted to the normal schools as
students? If not, what are the rea-
sons against their admission?
2. II a girl student enrolled in the
normal school marries during her
course, should she be permitted to
complete her course and graduate
from the school? If not, what are the
reasons against it?
3. If a graduate of the normal
school marries following graduation.
but preceding her appointment to a
position in the public schools, should
her marriage make her ineligible for
such appointment? What are the rea-
sons against such appointment?
4. Should a married woman be de-
clared ineligible to enter the open
competitive examinations conducted
for qualifying teachers for appoint
ment in the elementary schools, jun
ior high schools, senior high schools,
normal schools and all other public
schools of Washington. If so, what
are the reasons?
5. If a woman teacher marries sub.
sequent to her appointment, should
she be required to resign from serv.
| ice? If so, what are the reasons?
6. IT a woman teacher who has re-
signed from public school service has
married and requests reinstatement,
should the Board of Education refuse
to reinstate her on the grounds of her
| marriage? If so, why?
z. If a woman teacher on leave of
absence should marry while on leave.
should the Board of Education refuse
to reinstate her? If SO, why?
| s. Should a married woman now on
maternity leave be reinstated, as pro-
vided for under the present rules of
| the Board Of Education? If not. for
| what reasons?
3. If regulations are adopted by the
Board Of Education hereafter disquali-
flying married women for appointment
in the public schools of Washington,
should married women now be allowed
to continue in service or be required
to resign?
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