The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1883-01-19
An Apneal to WON en-.


During the special session of the Michigan
Legislature in the winter of 1SS0-s1, the
Committee on Education and Public
Schools-Messrs Patterson, Fitzpatrick and
Morrison, after consultation with Mr.. Cover,
the Superintendent of Public Instruction,
presented bill which being adopted with
out any opposition, gave us section II of Act
No. 164, found on page 1913, Session Laws of
1881.
This law gives to every woman who is
twenty-one years of age, and also parent or
or legal guardian of any child included in the
school census of the district, the privilege of
expressing by vote her choice concerning the
management of the school, providing she has
been for three months resident of the school
district or upon any territory belonging
thereto. This law also continues to every
woman who pays tax upon property the pri-
Silege, already granted, of voting on the rails
ing and expenditure of school moneys as well
as all other questions, providing she has
been a resident for three months.
This opens the way for every such woman,
mother or taxpayer to bring to bear upon
the school the influence of her own convic-
tons, and makes her, as much as any other
resident of the district responsible for the
choice of school officers, and through that
election for the selection of proper teachers,
the intellectual and moral training of the
children, and everything pertaining to school
management.
The law also says, That any female per-
son. of or above the age of twenty-one years,
who has resided in this State three months,
and in the township ten days next preceding
any election shall be eligible to the Office of
school inspector and ANY qualified voter
IN a school district who has property liable
to assessment for school taxes shall be elig-
ibIe to election or appointment to Office in
such school district unless such person be
an alien
Our free schools are the pride of this re-
public. Do results show them to be all they
should be as conservators of the highest in
terests of our children?
We desire to call attention to the number
of youths of seventeen years and under who
are confirmed in the use of bad language,
tobacco, and intoxicating liquors. We need
to make our schools more direct and GER
tain fundamentally for prevention of these
debasing habits. Schools should be not only
gardens of intellectual culture, but should
second the physical and moral training of
the best homes.
Physical and moral training, though an
accepted feature of our schools, is not, Of
course, the prominent part of our curriculum,
and the school receiving representatives from
all classes of homes, if not aided by the best
moral elements of society, fails to sufficient
~ instruct and restrain the vicious and un-
taught. Our free school system makes il
the birth-right of every child to receive in
structions in the rudiments of science. Dc
not the signs of the times indicate that il is
equally important to instruct every child
concerning the baneful effects of alcohol and
tobacco?
There are many school districts where il
is desirable that more time and attention be
given TO school matters 10y the proper Off
GERS. In some of these districts it is posi-
BILE to place in Office a woman eminent fol
sound judgment, experience and moral sense
She would give such attention to the appoint.
ments of the school room, as to promote the
comfort and welfare of the pupils. Hel
efforts would aid the teachers in such educa.
tional and reformatory work as would coun.
teract evil influences.
The State having recognized you as re-
sponsible guardians for the children whom
God has given you, and your participation
in the management of school affairs being
absolutely necessary for the greatest good OF
all, we earnestly appeal to every mother
every female guardian or taxpayer, tc
awaken 10 the importance of these privileges
and powers. Remember that neglect OF
these duties will make you personally &C.
countable for any loss. physical or moral
resulting thereby to your own or Other
children.