New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-11-17

now teaching i'm private school. Ihe protest Oh
the five primo pals aga MS the ladies VS. over.
whelmed by these documents, but every mai
wh ch the Nav has reserved during the week
brngs in scores of letters testifying that the hye
Principals dill represent the great BODY OF puDDc
school teachers
OPINIONS GREATLY VARY.
The women commissioners have working in
their favor some OF the JEALOUS and brightest
teachers in the shools but the opposition insists
that the ma ority of their supporters arr teachers
VINO are always complaining because they are not
advanced.
Mrs. Frances Funston, the president Of the Mu-
tual improl ement As ociatiOn and a capable
Ieacher, Is devoted to the Interests OF the w men
commissioners and is doing all in her power Tor
tiicn. She believes they viii be e1ppo nted, out
Tor reasons OF its own the a ISOLATION has not
thought proper 10 indOre them. Mrs. Funston
says mat both lad es have been greatly misrcpre-
sented, and the reforms which they have advO-
Gated have not been carried out by the Board. In
the Teachers Association the question OF indorSlng
the commissioners has been dis used ny lew,
TS 4as never been presented to the Assoc aton.
The Primary Teachers A, ISOLATION, which + the
next largest body OF elcherS, has also considered
the quest on, but th1 president, Miss Mary A. Ne
Govern, declined TO have the matter brought PC
lore the association She said in regard TO 1t
| have tn highest regard for the ladies' anu
believe they have tried earnestly TO do good
work Tor the schools, but / have not always
approved their methods. / do not think our
association should be made the centre OF dis
eussIcn on such matters 1t would give rise TO
y llngs which would do little good 70 the person
"hom IT was desired 10 benefit. Moreover, the
organization itself might be broken up If 1t
engaged in such discussions
The vice president, Miss Mary Il. McFarlane,
is enc OF the most ardent workers for the women
commissioners She has threatened TO withdraw
because the association declined give its indorse
ment to thin Miss McFarlanc says: None OF
me men have given so much time 10 the WORK
They are always ready TO listen To teacher,
ana none are so familiar with all gu stioEs
which come before the Board IN regard TO build
lhgS sanitary regulations, salaries and teaching
All the most intelligent teachers are III fdvol
OF their reappontment'
TEACHERS EXPRESS THEIR OPPOSITION.
Miss Salome Purroy, principal of school No 3d.
is one OF the most decided opponents of tn
reappointment of Mrs. Agnew and Miss Dodge
Miss Purroy said: &" ] am opposed 20 having
women serve Oh the Board of School Commission
eFS, and am most emphatically opposed to the
reappointment Of Miss Dodge and Mrs. AGncw
| feel that these two women have done nothing
to benefit their sex while on the School Board, but
on the contrary, have done much TO degrade
the standard Of female teachers in the public
schools
Mis- Kate Frederick, principal Of the school
At Lex nHOn-ave and SiXty-nnth-st, WIS one
OF the protesting cOmmltte. OF llVe grammar
principals who called on Mayor Grant a week
ago. In the course OF a SPIRITED review OF tne
QutSI Il {. ICFi jtlNlEtHs. Mlcb DIOutIIth nuhuC
tine following statement: am decidedly op.
po,e0 10 the appointment OF women as school
coWm i>Stjnct> Thee women now on the Board
have maze no IMPROVEMENTS: in fact the schools
are more upset than ever clJle. mere II
nothing i have ever had to say, that Is III school
MATES, which | could nOt say to man as
we'll as TO a woman. If there be any force in
the argument that wOmanS sympatheuc ma ue
makes her better qualified than man for directing
us teachers and the children. then the BOlrds
Of Trustees offer the be plnceS for women who
have an ambition philanthroplcaIy to engage III
public life
MISS TATE GIVES HER OPINION.
Miss Mary T. Tate, principal of School No
IS, said that she was a member Of the now noted
Committee Of Five, and that She had no reason
to regret the work of that committee I con-
sder,7 she continued, " that the management Of
system 50 vast as that OF Ncw-YOrk requires
more business capacity than women, except nc a
few among millions, ever acquire. The di cord
occasioned by the presence of women
in the Board the unnecessary discussions OF the last
TWO years. never were known before in the schools.
Never before have we teachers taken any
interest in the appointment or comm sslohers'
Now partisan feeling IS running ROT Wheh we
NJ The Committee of Five took our stand we dld
81 with a full knowledge Of the storm that would
come upon us, and W. were willing 10 suler for
the sake Of right Regarding the argument that
because women come nearer to the chl!dren lhey
am better than men on the Board, have TO say
only that if the Board were composed entirely OF
women what difference would IL make 10 Ine
900 600 children or the 1000 teachers? 1t j.
the teachers who come dlrel lh cohlacI WIN
the children II is only the falsely modest teacher
who cannot thoroughly discuss with men the SAM
tarv matters that come IN in the management OF
the school: and 7 think that we teachers are aS
able with our long experience. 10 discuss sucn
matters as women Of ineXperlcnce we HVe OF
that committee are receiving daily letters from
teachers of all grades in which they encourage US
and regret that their timidlty has prevented them
from standing publicly with MS. II Is very easy
matter TO take a stand publicly in favor OF the
reappontmcnt, but to oppose 1t Is an entirely I'LL
ferent matter. H.
women signed by doctors and lawyers rs an almost
wholly pratuitouS performance. They sign a IL
bV REQUEST rs small favor 81 trlennShp " Hdo
is their Judgment worth? Most OF ln"m nave
never entered on of our Scho0bouseS IN -
certain church recently IN pastor althr W ekE
evening service asked his congregation TO reRuh
for the pur p0sc OF signing the pctlton lot nllSs
DODGE and Mrs Agnew's rcapponlm"ht. ln' my
all did so 10 oblige the pastor ortleVP II uI"Is
10 keep i'm the government OF Ii'e scnuo'od "i
element which will certainly cause great ue'l
Of discOrd'
FAVORING TIE CANDIDATES.
Miss Julia Richman, principal Of school
No. r. readily gave her views on
the subject of rcappointmcnt as loilo"S'
In general I am heartily IN favor OF women Oh
School Boards. and in particular on the New or"
Board OF Education. / earnestly nope tua' ; rs
Dodge and Mrs. Agnew will continue III Ul'', ~,
! believe that their experience OF IN! 81. 80 III
the Board has made them uetlel 1' , linen
their places than any neApeticHceu "Olue i " 7
Miss Jane A. Denton, Scnool 70 ~ % G,,,rd
am surely IN favor Of women OF tie SCHOOL Do'Iu
| was instrumental IN securing lnf IPpo, ,,,Id rc