The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1881-01-28
Women audttc ballot.
WHY SHOULD WOMEN VOTE AT scuoo
ELEcTtoNsy

y
The following, taken from the Bos-
ton Daily Advertiser, il now as well
adapted to Vermont as Massachusetts.
1. Because, usually, the mother
stands nearer the clild than he father
does, and better understands its INTEL
lectual and spiritual needs.
2. Because, as women have especial
charge of the home interests Of children,
they "take naturally" TO the charge oil
their school interests. with fewer
things to distract their attention, they
attend more carefully to these interests
than do the men. This has been fully
exemplified in the case Of lady school
directors in our state during The PAST.
six years.
3. A woman is much more apt to
have AL eye single to the good Of the
school In casting tho ballot for school
officers. Six years experience as
county superintendent has convinced
me that in very many cases arty poll
tics, whisky or business considera-
tons control the votes which elect
school officers; and they are consiJ-
cred of so little importance that they
are usually put at the end of the ticket.
4. The mass of women can vote more
intelligently upon school questions
than the mass of men can, because they
have enjoyed more school privileges
than the men have. School records
shew that while in the primary grades
the number of boys and girls Is about
equal, in the higher grades the girls far
Ioutnumber the bows. This is the natu-
raj result of the difference in money
value sot upon the labor of men aud
j of women. So long rs the difference
exists, boys will leave school to engage
in productive industry earlier than
girls do. Thus it happens that the
mass of women remain longer in
schools than the mass of men do. At
tending them longer, they arc better
acquainted with the working of the
schools in all departments, hence can
vote more intelligently concerning
them.
4 8. AS the debt of woman to our pub
. lie schools is greater than is that OF
man, her responsibility concerning
them is proportionally increased. Tc
the women of Massachusetts is now of
fered the glorious opportunity of dis
charging this debt. ii, through mista
ken feeling of delicacy, apathy, or any
| faithfully this duty, not only will they
show themselves ungratefnl for The
blessings which they have showercC
upon them, but they will turn back The
hands upon the dial of time at icas
D half a century. Like christianity itself
, oar public schools have ever proved
especial blessings to women; to The
! women of Massachusetts is now Offered
the privilege of lifting these schools IN
: to purer atmosphere. Every woman
| in An erica now looks to each woman
, in Massachusetts to do her duty, ant
=. by doing it speak for us to whom i
E denied the privilege she now. posses
( SEES. Her votc-whether she casts it o.
, whether she does not-will now deter
r mine whether the educational interest
: of these children shall be intrusied t,
: whisky rings and third-rate politi
[ clans, or to those who will accept th'
[ sacred trust with pure hands, as re
: sponsibility laid upon their souls by
r God. Remember, you cannot throw
3 off the responsibility which this privi
, lege entails. If you do not vote for tht
right, you are virtually sustaining thu
wrong.
/ Could every woman know as 1
taught by the sad experience of The
, past six years, how largely basel
influences control school elections
, there is not in oil Massachusetts hant
which has q woman's heart behind i
that would feel itself too dainty t,
drop ballot for purity and honor, Al
that great fountain-head of public NOR
Sour public schools. | have never
been in favor of woman's voting upon
other questions except temperance, bul
am fully Convinced that the ballot in
her hand, cast as in Gods sight, is nee.
essary to the salvation of our public
schools.
MARY WEST, Supt. of public schools
in Knox Co., Illinois.