428 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



ing stimulus to the boys that each should look forward to taking care 

 of himself, not depending upon his neighbors or his government. 



This plan would cure two difficulties of the present system. First 

 the whole scale of pensions would drop away, as of course there would 

 be no thought of so rewarding the female teacher. Second the dis- 

 graceful squabbles that take place periodically between the sexes over 

 the question of equal pay for equal service would offend the ears no 

 longer. Each sex would be hired on the true basis of compensation 

 within its own ranks. That logical fallacy, such a fond subject of 

 dispute, the equality of work of the two, would appear no more. It 

 would be plain and above argument to every one that there is no such 

 thing as men and women doing the same work in the schoolroom or 

 elsewhere, and consequently to speak of equality of the two is absurd. 

 The relation is far higher than that of equality, it is that of indispensa- 

 bility. It is the same as exists between the two halves of a circle or 

 between the center and the circumference. 



For some places, although the general rate of compensation would 

 have to be raised higher, the total expense would not be very much 

 greater. There would be no pensions, and instead of appropriating 

 public funds to people who give no service whatever every dollar would 

 get its worth in the devoted labor of both men and women teachers. 



The school next to the family trains for life, for conduct, for char- 

 acter. The best method of development is that of example. What 

 better model for these maturing natures than a teacher who is a success ? 

 Success for women means marriage. This notion is entwined in our 

 very fibers so that we look upon the " old maid " as a failure in the 

 great female game of life. The man who can not care for his family 

 and for himself, who becomes a burden upon the goodness of his neigh- 

 bors, is equally considered a failure. It is not a good pattern to set 

 before the youth that the leader, man or woman, who daily instructs 

 them has not succeeded in the great battle of the world. The schools 

 should have the best and, in the long run, success, for the great bulk 

 of mankind, is the proof of the best: competency for the man and 

 marriage for the woman. 



