The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1888-12-08
Women as School Trustees.


The recognition of the influence of
women in all matters pertaining to our
present educational systems has become
so general, that the ACCESSIBILITY Of the
appointment Of educated women to
official positions OF responsibility and
trust in State and County Boards is no
longer matter of experiment. In the
leading cities of this country women
prominent for their activity in educa-
tional work have recently been aP-
pointed on educational boards, while
in the West, where public sentiment is
more advanced than here, she is iden-
tilted more closely with local educa-
tional affairs. AT the recent annual ses
sion of the State School Commissioners
Association held in Baltimore, one of
the principal subjects of discussion was
the Observation-Disclosures if legal, it IS
desirable to appoint one female on the
board of Public School district trus-
tees" Examiner Squier of this county
expressed himself as generally opposed
to the innovation, but in any case where
the services of an educated woman
could be secured, he favored such an
appointment as an experiment.
Examiner Beatty of Queen Anne's
took more advanced position on the
subject and said: "Were we to listen to
the wisdom of our ancestors, we most
emphatically would say woman should
not hold such an office but in the
light of the present day we cannot pass
judgment SO quickly. Wherever we
find woman engaged in the different
fields of labor now open to her, she is
a success. She excels in art and
science. As lawyer, physician, lee
turer, teacher, she has shown unmis-
taxable evidence of her ability and
worthiness to compete with man. In
the literary world she has shone with
ever increasing luster. In the business
world she has been recognized as no
mean foe to cope with, she being es-
pecially noted for accuracy. Her skill
in telegraphy, typewriting, woodcarving
and such work as requires quickness
of perception and dizziness of execution
has been proven beyond doubt. As
teacher of our schools she has become
very neCessity-an important part of
the educational body. None of US can
deny her superiority in governing chill
dren, not, it is true with the brute force
of birch and black gum sapling, but by
the gentle influence of love. Nor can
we withhold our acknowledgment of
her ability to teach, for the evidences
of her fitness are found in the success
of her work, the increasing demand for
her services. Even in politics her in
fuence is felt and appreciated. She is
a power behind the throne. l am glad
that man is awakening to the knowledge
of her ability to engage in pursuits other
than those of household drudgery.
Now, when the fields of literature, most
of the professions and avocations of
life, are, with oren doors, ready and
waiting to receive her when she has
proved, by test of actual work, her
mental and physical ability to satisfac-
torily perform these different duties,
shall we debar her from the trusteeship?
Have we the right to do so1 Whether
the petty res and strlfes incident
upon the business relations of neil of
grosser minds will lessen or destroy
that halo of sanctity, hat delicate re-
hnement which clothes her like an in
visible veil, whether they will detract
from the holiness of maternity, or unfit
her for the dual duties of life incumbent
upon her-thls | would not dare affirm.
l would net dare say, "She is not fit to
be trustee"