The Wasp — 1879 — page 310: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

The main cartoon depicts an elderly woman (labeled "My Dear Grandmother") sitting in a chair, appearing scandalized. The illustration accompanies a letter satirizing educational hypocrisy and corruption in the school system. The text critiques how poor girls are exploited—forced to study hard to become teachers, yet paid minimal wages, while the system remains corrupt and unaccountable. The satire targets the contradiction between ideals of educational advancement and the grim economic reality for working-class women educators. The "grandmother" figure likely represents traditional moral values being confronted with systemic injustice, making her shock appropriate commentary on how the establishment ignores exploitation of vulnerable populations. The piece advocates for transparency and accountability in education administration.