Maria Mitchell and Women's Rights
Maria Mitchell officially became part of the Vassar College staff in 1865. She was invited in 1862 to be the Astronomy professor at the first college to allow women. However, the Civil War delayed the opening of the school. Maria's position was very controversial, not only were there people who didn't believe that women should go to college but there were also people that thought that women could not be taught by women. But Maria taught anyway and continued using her unique style. This focused more on observing and expanding than the more classic textbook approach. This way was much more successful because it grasped the students minds. Maria and her pupils often stayed up very late watching the stars. Maria often stayed up from dusk to dawn watching the night sky and she would wake up her students no matter how late if there was a comet, or meter shower. She objected to grades because she stated that there was no acute measurement of intelligence and also didn't do attendance saying that if the class was interesting the students would come to class. She hated the faculty meetings because of all the petty arguments that took place. Maria described it as incredibly boring. Maria Mitchell never quite got along well with the rest of faculty at Vassar. Most of them were very attached to the traditional ways of teaching. They disagreed with her beliefs and her independent nature.
Though Vassar had equal education for both men and women, the female faculty were treated like second citizens. Their names were left out of the faculty committees, and women were getting less pay then less experienced men. Needless to say that Maria wouldn't stand for this. The men were being paid $2,500 per year while Mitchell was being paid $800 and Alida Avery, another professer at Vassar was paid $1,000. In 1870 Maria wrote to President Raymond asking for equal pay. The matter was dismissed under the claim that the rent for rooms was different. The following year in 1871 she wrote another letter saying that you can't sidestep the issue by charging unequal rents. Knowing that the Executive Committee would deny the request, she asked if it could be brought to the Board of Trustees. At the Board of Trustees meeting on June 20th, they passed three resolutions that guaranteed equal pay. However more issues followed.
In 1872 Maria Mitchell helped the founding of the American Association for the Advancement of Women and began being president in 1875. This lasted for two years. Even after her presidency, she still participated until the year 1888, the year before her death. Similar to the style to her teaching, that the student must observe to understand, she believed a women must learn to think for herself if she wishes to accomplish anything.
"Until women throw off reverence for authority they will not develop. When they do this, when they come to truth through their own investigations, when doubts lead them to discovery, the truth they get will be theirs, and their minds will go on unfettered."
Though Vassar had equal education for both men and women, the female faculty were treated like second citizens. Their names were left out of the faculty committees, and women were getting less pay then less experienced men. Needless to say that Maria wouldn't stand for this. The men were being paid $2,500 per year while Mitchell was being paid $800 and Alida Avery, another professer at Vassar was paid $1,000. In 1870 Maria wrote to President Raymond asking for equal pay. The matter was dismissed under the claim that the rent for rooms was different. The following year in 1871 she wrote another letter saying that you can't sidestep the issue by charging unequal rents. Knowing that the Executive Committee would deny the request, she asked if it could be brought to the Board of Trustees. At the Board of Trustees meeting on June 20th, they passed three resolutions that guaranteed equal pay. However more issues followed.
In 1872 Maria Mitchell helped the founding of the American Association for the Advancement of Women and began being president in 1875. This lasted for two years. Even after her presidency, she still participated until the year 1888, the year before her death. Similar to the style to her teaching, that the student must observe to understand, she believed a women must learn to think for herself if she wishes to accomplish anything.
"Until women throw off reverence for authority they will not develop. When they do this, when they come to truth through their own investigations, when doubts lead them to discovery, the truth they get will be theirs, and their minds will go on unfettered."