Year: 1874

The effort now being made, by which
women will be declared eligible to all
offices connected with the educational in
terests Of the State, is good one, and
there is every probability of its being sue.
cessFul. A similar law in the State of H.
llnois, was, last year, attended by the
election Of a number of ladies as School
Superintendents in their respective coun-
ties, and we have no hesita Ion in saying
that, in our belief, the change which has
been made in that State and which will
probably be made in this State soon,
will be found attended with most benef-
cial yesults.


SO far as the mere fact of women being
permitted to hold certain offices is con-
cerned, it amounts TO but very little, ex-
cept as it indicates breaking down of
old barriers. But it holds out n
promise of future benefits to woman,
which may not, perhaps, have been con-
templated by those through whose efforts
the change will be brought about. The
capacity Of women to serve in the vari-
Gus educational offices being demonstrat-
ed, will undoubtedly result in an increas-
cd interest being exhibited in other move
ments tending to open up new branche-
Of employment for, and more remmera-
tive wages to, the sex. At this present
time, the goal of female am biton is linn
tied within the sphere OF literary and ed
ucational pursuits. Practically, the pro-
fessicns, to which any young man ot ed
ucation and ability may aspire, are closed
| against woman. The highest ambition
which a lady Of intelligence and refine
ment can have, reaches no higher than
to become successful teacher Of youth,
sometimes in a public, sometimes in a
private capacity. Nor do they have these
| aspirations alone-men also study to fit
themselves for the business Of teaching,
but with them it is matter of choice
and not compuision. They have all other
avenues TO employment opened to them,
and if they select the occupation OF teach
ing, it is because it is preferred to any
thing else that offers. And in this, as in
all other occupations proper to either sex,
the standard value of mans services
is placed higher than those of woman.
For precisely the same kind of labor,
performed for the same number Of hours
and with an equal degree of skill, the
male teacher is paid from twenty-five to
female teacher. We fail to see the just
ice Of this, nevertheless its truth cannot
be disputed. Equal wages for equal
work" is not thought Of when the parties
happen to be Of opposite sexes.


We do not suppose that the mere fact
of women being declared eligible for a
certain class OF Offices will, Of itself, be of
any particular benefit to the sex but it is
a step toward recognizing the fitness of
woman for more extended sphere of ac-
ton than she now occupies, and is, there
fore, one which cannot fail to crafty eve
ry admirer progress, while of its ult-
mate result there can be no doubt. With
lady members of Boards of Trustees.
the claims Of female teachers to receive
equal compensation for certain duties
with that which would be paid to males,
cannot fail to receive more favorable con-
sideration than is now accorded. The pc
culiar fitness Of women for the business
Of teaching, is already recognized for the
intermediate and primary departments Of
our public schools, and we venture the
prophecy that it will not be many years
before male teachers in the higher classes
will be the exception and not the rule
And this, we think, will be a change for
the better with the scholars. Young men,
who pass the last years of school life un-
der the care of loved and respected lady
teacher, will be less ready to develop in
to specimens Of hoodlumism, like too
many Of those who now, unfortunately,
disgrace the youth Of this country.