The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1876-08-16

ed here than elsewhere in the mainten-
ance and improvement of the free school
system? Verify not. On the contrary,
it may be safely asserted that, given the
opportunity, the women Of this state
would prove themselves, on the average,
the equals Of the women of any state,
both in ability and inclination to serve
"s the law provides they may. More
over, it is highly probable that many
women Of thoroughly cultivated intellects
and Of broad views of life and duty, as
belonging to women as we'll as to men,
have for years felt a longing for the
time to come when educated women Of
conscience and of leisure should be in
vited to participate with the best educat-
ed and most liberal Of men in caring
for the sacred interests Of popular in
structions.
Fortunate it would indeed be for the
cause Of education in our midst, if in
each city, town, village and country dis
trict in our state, the service of at least
one capable and conscientious woman
should be this year sought and obtained
so far as may be possible at the elections
of school officers, taking place in the
fall. In section ten of title one Of the
school laws of Minnesota, We find that
"the officers of each common school dis.
trict shall be elected at the annual school
meeting, which shall be helton the first
Saturday in October of each year,
AS is well known, the time and man.
ner of electing school officers in a few
places in the state, have been made ex-
ceptional to this law. In those few
places, members of the school board
have been chosen at the general spring
elections. and by ballot at the polls.
And, although it was not until about
the middle Of March the new law relat-
ing to women and the schools became
generally known, during the month of
April several ladies were regularly chos-
en- by nominating conventions, and in at
least three instances elected by good
ma ority Of both masculine and feminine
voters.
The ladies thus hastily chosen and
elected are already reported as having
thus far rendered very acceptable and
efficient service.
1t is also reported of those with whom
they are serving, that careful of their
reputation as gentlemen, they have
treated the ladies thus chosen with that
kindness and courtesy which every true
woman has rig ht to expect.
For the encouragement of other ladies
to do as those have done, it but remains
for those who believe that womanly cul-
ture, experience, and devotion may be
advantageously applied to the improve.
ment of the schools, to come forward
and express that belief, in the columns
as . the leading state and county papers,
oftew prominent educators have already
done.
Let it be remembered that the Rev.
MIR. Burt state superintendent of public
instruction, early made his opinion
known on this subject. Speaking of
the new law he said: "The new measure
seems to result from Il popular belief
that our schools can be improved by
permitting women to vote and hold
Office as contemplateiby the law. This
result should follow the new measure,
or it cannot be indicated. Whether
or not it shall follow, our women are to
decide. X y II Meet the
issue, then, with, moral courage. If
nominated for Office upon boards Of
education do not decline through excess
sive modesty. Let our schools have the
'elevating influence Of your refinement
and good judgment, and the cause of
popular education may gain much by
the new measure
The Pioneer-Press Of an early date,
while advising women to accept the
privilege offered them, CT helping to
elect school officers, as well as serving
as such, made use of the following lam
guage: 1.-The object Of this law is to
elevate the standard Of education in
Minnesota and to insure this end it 81
imperative that the women of the state
make use Of the agency thus freely placed
in their hands.
1t may be truthfully be said, therefore,
that SO long rs women are entrusted
with the ballot, they will be responsible
for the interests Of education in our
midst. There are good women enough
in society, added to good men, to insure
the election of honest, capable, energetic
men or women, to the school Offices of
the state. We sincerely hope that by
the united, resolute and persistent
action Of these women, the result antic-
ipated by the passage Of this law may be
fully and triumphantly accomplished.
Prof. Phelps, principal of the state
normal school at Winona, in an article
published in the Winona Republican,