New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-11-17
WOMEN COMMISSIONERS.
WILL THE MAYOR RETAIN THEM
STRONG OPPOSITION AMONG FEMALE
TEACHERS
MRS. AeNEw Ann MISS DODGE HAVE MANY
LOYAL sUPPoRTERs-soME OPINIONS
ON BOTH SIDES.

on BOTH SIDES.
Women school commissioners have become proml-
ne mt in New-York and throughout the country dur
in the last three years. The first women TO serve
in that capacity in this city, Mrs. Mary Nash Ag-
new and Miss Grace H. Dodge, are experiencing no'
only all the glory Of such prominence, but aIso
many Of its unpleasant features. Like all women
of decided character, they have left strong III
pressions for good and for i'll among those ASST
ciated with them in the public schools. On 'ne
one hand, they have secured the devotion anu
praise OF patron saints by teachers, some OF tn'N,
the brightest in the schools while by hosV u
others they are criticised and condemned III '''e
severest terms In some instances the feeling ms
been so strong that mere mention OF the ladles -
a meeting Of women teachers has been sutncleH'
to arouse the bitterest expressions
Three years ago, when the subject OF appoin'ihS
women to serve on the Board of Education was
broaclrd, The Tribune was the first to auNo,
cate the measure. The members OF the le"ch'i9
Mutual Improvement Association, comprising m'"S
of the Younger teachers, worked enthusiastch'
for the measure, which finally resulted IN tne OF
pointment oil Miss Dodge and Miss Agnew
Both ladies have devoted themselves jealousy
TO the school duties. Miss Dodge has never DeeI
absent from her place in the Board meetings ana
has attended all cOiDIDlltee Htcbu5S' ''AS'
has been absent only when detained at home oy
family duties By the members Of the Board u
Education they have always been treated courte'
ouslv. and. where the majority disagreed WIN
them they baye never been subjected to the severe
criticism which most male members receive sooner
or later from their associates.
Mrs Aenew and Miss Dodge entered the BO'ru
when a period of reform OF some Ci the oiu'i
methods had been entered upon, and from INC
outset they have usually been in line WIN III
reform Some Of their views have been more
radical than the Board of Education careu u
adont With the subject of Manual Training,
which the Board had under consideration wheh
the women were appointed, both have been l'ehVr
fed Their committee took a conservative course
introducing and extending this instruction IL the
most cautious manner For her part in the Moran
case. which was brought out through her efforts
Miss Dodge was severely criticised, ana Der
earnestness became Internationally one OF inc
chief causes of the appropriately with which she
is regarded by many teachers. The views of Mrs.
Agnew who was member of the Normal COlege
Committee, w,re misunderstood through some
casual remarks made to the college girls and this
misunderstanding was afterward intensified when
both ladies opposed the efforts OF the college 10
Mace itself on an independent basis. They had
nearly succeeded in prev entlng this when the COL
lege alumnae took up the cause of the lnstltu-
ton, and by their efforts counteracted and de-
feated tie measures OF Mrs. AGncw aud MIS- Dodge
Mrs Agnew is reported not TO be anxious TO
return TO the Board, except as ratification OF her
rast work Miss Dodge has become, however,
thoroughly interested in school work, and with
her friends. she has done all that she can le-
Ultimately to obtain a reappointment.
MISS DODGE SPEAKS OF HER WORK.
Speal1ing recently OF her work in the Board,
Miss Dodge said that she had made il careful
study during the three years of her term, and had
become convinced from her own experience and
that OF friends who were serving in school boards
of other cities, that women could Go valuable
work in these bodies which could not be effected
by men
We have made it, she said, " our duty to
visit and inspect all the schools OF the city and
10 become thoroughly familiar with them, their
work and the various questions connected with
them. All departments have been examined, but
more particularly those which relate 10 the system
Of marks and examination, teachers salaries aud
the sanitary condition of the schools. l have en-
deavored to make a thorough study of the methods
of instruction in other cities, so as
TO compare them intelligently with our
own We found it often possible to
represent the women teachers more efectually
than men could do and by our influence to carry
out various measures in their favor. We have
taken active part in securing a reduction Of
the number Of pupils in primary school classes.
from sevonty.fve 10 sixty. To the bylaws relat.
ing 10 average attendance we gave much study.
Salaries had been reduced through a falling off
in the attendance Of schools from causes beyond
any individual influence With the aid of teachers
we have been able to correct this Injustice in
large measure. and no teacher should now suffer
reduction Of salary from such causes
The women commissioners have been the strong
advocates of a law making the minimum salary
Of teacher, who have taught for fourteen years
$3.50. This was approved by the Board. but the
amount Of money necessary to carry out the
resolution was refused by the Board of Apportion-
ment this fall
OPPOSITION CONFINED TO TEACHERS.
The opposition to these ladies in tho schools
has caused more feeling than any school topic for
years 1t comes principally from women teachers
and not from the officials OF tho Board of Edu.
cation, who, if opposed to these. have remained
in large measure passive. A commissioner in
discussing this feature Of it a few days ago at
trbuted the trouble 10 the fact that women
are out Of place the Board Of Education He
had been in favor originally Of appointing women
Oh the boafu' ana ne beneVed That they Should
serve on the local boards of trustees in every ward
OF the city.
The multitude Of petitions and counter-pettions
which have been poured on the Mayor within
few weeks have mostly originated among the
teachers in favor Of or against the reappOintment
Of Miss Agnew and Miss Dodge. They began
with a petition in favor of the ladies presented
10y their friends among the teachers aad asking
Tor their rcappontment. This gave rise TO a pc.
luton from tho Associate Alumnae of the Normal
College, asking that the college which now has
more than 5000 alumnae, 1000 of whom
teachers in the public schools of the city. be
represented in the Board of Trustees which is
composed Of school commissioners The alumnae
presented the name Of Miss Clara NJ. Williams.
one OF the early graduates of the Normal College
lhis petition did not oppose the appointment Of