A GERMAN WRITER ON FEMALE TEACHERS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIIL, Issue 99, 26 April 1878, Page 4

A GERMAN WRITER ON FEMALE TEACHERS.

Kecently at the meetingof the School Board of South Australia, it was reported that thirty-three students at the Seminary or Training School had successfully passed their examinations fitting them to enter the ranks of pupilteachers, and were admitted as such accordingly. Of this number nine only were males, and twenty-four were females. Remarking on this disproportion between the sexes, the Adelaide German Gazette says : — "lf this continues, ihe main management of schools will soon be in the hands of women. This must revenge itself most seriously upoD pur rising generation, even though president and minister etill advocate the opinion that women are most specially adapted for school administration. At ladies' and children's schools they may, under certain circumstances,' be in their place under supervision of a male teacher, but their public efficiency should end there. Who is there that does not know the state of education by ihe mother in a family where a husband or father are abaent, and just ao it is at school. We do not for a moment dispute the influence many mothers have had upon their sons-— to wit, the Humboldte and Goethe, (which latter boosts of having inherited from his mother the « fabuliven,' (alory making) — but what would have become of them as of many others, if the paternal influence had been wanting ? What however, will single cases and exceptions avail against the rule recognised by all nations : lhat woman, without help of man, is no educator. Were this not so, the family would not consist of man aod wife ; and the principle of equity should, in such a serious matter be of the lost importance. What would become of the world, if, as there is every appearance in these colonies, all our teachsrs, ministers, and physicians are ultimately women ? All respect for the true mother ! But let woman Stand off as teacher, miniater, judge,

and — captain of dragoons, especially if she is an old maid ; and if she does not remain in a state of single blessedness what would become of school, pulpit, etc., when she is laid by ? ' We find no regulation in this reapect, nor any loophole in the Act ; as, for instance, who ia to be her substitute during that eventful time, or whether she may bring baby to school, etc., etc.? We call the attention of the Minister of j Education to this omission. There should be a paragraph as follows : — ' During school hours the teacher ia not allowed to nurse (suckle) her infant, but i may be permitted to send a proper pupil quickly to the bedroom when baby is crying, to put pap into its mouth '—for keeping a wet nurse the pay will scarcely admit of. Should one of our fair teachers feel hurt at this phrase, we ask them kindly to skip it, and not be vexed with us ; for we have not intended it for them, but for men who surely pay no homage to the fair Bet by putting them into a teacher's yoke."