Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-11-12
OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Meeting of the Board of Trustees.
Reports on the Female Trtssfee
Question.

II "
evening-Mr. Curtis presiding. In expectation
| of reports as to the propriety of women serving
as public school trustees there were several
/ ladies present, including Mrs. Belva A. Lock-
/ wood, Mrs. Lucy w. Abell NJ. D.; Sabra P.
Abel, Mrs. l. r Messenger, and Mrs. l. v.
| Bryant. A communication was received from
the District Commissioners, enclosing letter
from Mr.. Henry Hardy, suggesting a plat of
| ground at the east end of the Wadsworth prop
erty (over the Eastern Branch) as site for a
| school house; referred. A communication was
presented requesting the establishment of a
| school ON sth street, above Boundary. The petit
/ tioners-Mrs. Dooittle and otherS-state that
there are now 81 children at this point, and
| there is already school room with furniture
| there. Mr.. Brooks offered a resolution provid-
ing for the establishment of the school as prayed
for, and appointing Miss Susan Towles as tenn
porary teacher, subject to the rules of the board
| The subject was referred to the committee on
teachers with power to act Applications were
received rom the following persons for teachers
positions:-Lizzie Cayon, L. F. Brown, William
| Metz, Andrew F. Hill, Panalee Nugent. Marion
Fletcher Fannie L. Hodges and Pinkie A. Ru-
l therford. Also from Mrs. Willbrick for appoint
1 ment as janitor
! HOLIDAY ON THE 18th INSTANT.
| Mr.. Lovejoy presented an invation from the
| Thomas statue on the 10Th instant, and offered
| a resolution accepting the invitation. and that
to afford the teachers an opportunity TO par
ticipate, the schools be closed on the 18th in
| slant, which was adopted.
Mr.. LoveJoy presented communication from
| Mr.. Augustus Watson in reference to temper
| ance and antf-tobacco pledges being placed in
| the schools. This proposition was mentioned in
| The STAR few days since. 1t was referred to
| the committee on rules
The superintendent presented the abstract of
reports, showing pupils enrolled-white Wash
fngton, ~, l31; Georgetown, ,407; county, 92S;
| colored: Washington, 6,Is5 Georgetown, 551;
| county, ,l52-total; 2s,5 Teachers employed
white schools: Washington, 232, Georgetown, 26;
county. %; colored schools: Washington, 12O;
Georgetown, 9; county, 2a-total, 43s.
REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES.
| The committee on teachers reported Miss
Mabel Rose Lewis as acting teacher, LIST grade,
Sd division, from october 20th 1879 and transfer
her to the 5th division from November 1st, 1879,
and that temporary teachers certificates be
granted as follows-2d class, Emeltne c. Weight
man, Mary L. Kowie, E. Amelia Butler, Ada A
| BOseman, and Laura F. Dyson; Sd class, Susan
nah c. Collins, Chanie A. Patterson and Louisa
A. Smith; appoint Cornelia Clum in list grade,
9Th division, and assigned to school As, Good
Hope Hill.
The committee on buildings and repairs SUBJ
mitted report as to the erection of a room on
the Industrial School property in Georgetown;
adopted. Also, a report from the boiler in
spector as to the heating apparatus in the Lin
coin building, recommending that an additional
boiler be provided; adopted.
The committee on teachers reported that ian
examination Of candidates for teachers positions
and promotions will be commenced in the
Franklin building on Friday, the 18th of Deem
Der next, at O'Clock punctually."
The sixth division reported the diScontinuance
OF the sub-assiStant in school l and also that
they had agreed on terms for the leasing of the
Gill Building corner OF 18th and Pomerog streets.
Mr. Baldwin offered resolution requesting the
District Commissioners to furnish the board
list OF bills paid since July 1St which have not
been submitted to the board; adopted. Mr.,
Lovejoy offered resolution that the committee
on fiscal report be continued for the purpose of
acting for the board before Congress and the
commissioners in the matter of appropriations,
and that the committee Of ways and means CO.
operate With that committee. alOntaH
Women on the School Board.
Mr.. Curtis, from the special committee on the
petition OF Mrs lockwood and others in refer
board, reported that they had had several meet
ings, but had not be enable to agree on a unant-
nous report. Three reports had been written,
and he understood thai imr. Lloyd, who was alb
sent, had proposed fourth.
MR.. CURTIS READ HIS REPORT
on the subject. He says as to the legality Of
appointing women that there is nothing in the
statutes relating to the schools which prohibits
their appointment. AS to the eXpediency of ap-
pointing women on the board there is an honest
difference of opinion. He says: 1T is conceded
That IN an Intelligent knowledge OF the wants,
dispositions, and caprices of children, and also
in the matter ard manner of controlling them,
women, from intuition as well as from expe-
rlence, excel In the management of our schools
ample recognition OF this is given as Is evil
denced from the fact that more than eight
out of ten OF our teachers are females. So
far, then, as molding and shaping the minds
of our youths are concerned, women to-day fill
the most important part in our public schools,
and I'LL 1t Well But there are other matters
pertaining TO the Office OF school trustee or to
school board which should be considered.
We conclude then, that while we see no legal
objection to the appointment of women as trus-
tees, as question OF policy we cannot recon-
mend such action. That women could be Sc
lected who would acceptably fill the position, we
are free to concede, but it would be, not because
they are women, but for the reason that they, in
common with men, possess the needed require
ments for the position. We do not believe that
woman, because she is woman, possesses
her for such position, or that a man, because
he is man, is in any special manner unquali-
fed for dischargtng satisfactorily the duties Of
such Office. On the contrary, we believe that
for the discharge of most OF the duties connect
ed with the Office of school trustee men by ma
ture, training and experience, have reader and
superior qualifications, however SUPERIOR the
other sex may be In the more intimate and re-
sponsible relation of teacher and guardian"
MIR. FAIRLY READ REPORT
on the subject, which concludes as follows:
.'In conducting our public schools by far the
largest share OF the work is performed by ladies,
who yet have no voice in the administration OF
the system OF which they are its brightest orna-
ment, While 1t must be admitted that in all be-
neyolent enterprises women show more tact
skill, economy, and devotion than men. Re
gard1ng the school as an extenson Of the Fam
Hy and coordinate with the Church, to which
Womans love. purity, and fidelity are essential
to success, the undersigned therefore believe
that If a proportlonate number of refined and
board the interests Of education would be ad-
vanced and the efficiency of our schools pro-
noted
MR.. LovEJoy READ HIS REPORT
on the subject, which concludes with the follow
ing ecapitulatiOn-Women are legally eligible
to the position of school trustees The commits
sioners have power to appoint them. They have
no right, simply because they are women, to an
Office. There is no sufficient reason assigned
in this petition for their selection All the pos
sible benefits to the system to be derived from
the influence OF women are secured by their
predOminance as teachers, as they hold more
than ninety-1ive per cent. Of such positions. The
petition OF seven women cannot be accepted as
the oracle Of the sex in this District; and If
women are to be appointed, candidacy Of seven
will cramp that electicsm essential to the seec-
ton OF the best agents. Seven mothers" can
do the state more good in seven homes than
upon our school board.'
MR.. MIDDLETON SAID
he had prepared short report He then read
half dozen lines In which he sums up his views
OF the legality and proprfety of their appoint
ment on the school board as follows: Gan
women legally can. Proper women euuit-
cOu,d. But true women 7aerer should" -.aply
MIR. Loyejoy favored oper'
every profession to We ..ng the doors OF
was their own ynen, and II they failed it
their ~ . lookout. but the Question as to
-eeIulneSS TO others was quite another
and they are not the sole judpaS Of IT.