The Prairie View State Normal School for colored youth of both sexes has had an Industrial Department from its beginning years ago. A movement is now on foot to establish such a department as a portion of the public school system. Austin already has one, made possible by legacy, and its fine results have greatly inspired the law-makers.
One woman has served as superintendent of schools at Waco, and there are many women principals of High Schools.
There are in the public schools 7,347 men and 7,672 women teachers. The average monthly salary of the men is $49.20; of the women, $35.50.
Practically all of the progressive steps enumerated above have been taken since 1883. When it is remembered that less than twenty years ago women were virtually ostracized if they attempted any kind of occupation outside the home, even teaching being looked upon askance, the changes seem almost miraculous.
Texas has 130 Woman’s Clubs with a membership of about 3,500. With other good works they have distributed great quantities of reading matter among isolated families. They also have established forty public libraries and four traveling libraries.
