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    THE PROFESSION" OF THE TEACHER. 3

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    The Annual Reports Of The Governesses' B...

    empoverished by attempts to uphold their fathers' efforts in business . Six were burdened by the support of invalid sisters who

    had no other props in life ; and three were incapable of taking another situation from extreme nervous excitementcaused by over exertion

    , and anxiety . In short , says the Report , " the inquiries made into these cases may be briefly stated to show how many governesses

    spend the early part of their lives in working for others . " Her time of exertion comprising " twenty-five years at the utmost , at a salary

    commencing at 25 _? ., and seldom exceeding 80 ? . per annum , if domestic ties take part of her savings , or if ill health come ,

    attended by that worst of all pains , compulsory rest—not only stoping the accumulation of her little fund , but instantly preying on it

    — p how shall the governess provide for herself in her old age ?" As some slight solution of this fearful question—fearful when

    the sex , the years , and the probable physical delicacy of the class referred to are considered—the general committee set themselves

    to work to found annuities for aged governesses . In this first year 500 ? . was got together and invested to create a perpetual annuity of

    15 ? . ; and for this small yearly sum there at once appeared about thirty candidatesmany of them entirely destitute .

    , By 1850 the number of annuitants at 15 ? . per annum was seventeen , for which annuities a proportionate capital had been

    raised , while twenty-five received 20 ? ., and one annuity amounted to 30 Z . These annuities were all permanent , and upon the death of

    any In reci like pient manner another 1852 is saw elected the . Ladies Committee distributing

    tem-, porary assistance to the amount of 1000 ? . a year . The third branch of exertion consisted in the formation of

    provident annuities , paid for by the teachers themselves . Contracts were made at the National Debt Office , on better terms than the Life

    Assurance offices would afford ; and between March 1843 and March 1844 the Honorary Secretary received 2351 ? . 9 s . 9 d . from

    , ladies towards the purchase of annuities for themselves . In 1856 the amount received was 8758 ? . ; and two hundred and seventy-four

    ladies had secured their annuities , — " an amount of permanent usefulness to the society ' s credit , which is often overlooked by those of its

    friends who think more of the relief of distress than of its prevention . " The total amount received for provident annuities during

    the working of this branch had reached in 1858 to the enormous sum of 164 , 000 ? .

    The general principle of assurance is so little applied or understood by the female sexthat no greater kindness can be done to

    , working women than to put them in the way of such safe and profitable investments of their earnings , thus helping them to modes

    of self help which they have neither the knowledge nor the courage to attempt alone .

    In 1844 another branch of usefulness was planned , namely , a

    b 2

    The Profession" Of The Teacher. 3

    THE PROFESSION" OF THE TEACHER . 3

• Citation
  • English Woman’s Journal (1858-1864), March 1, 1858, page 3, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ewj/issues/ewj_01031858/page/3/