The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-06-21

| inside, when 60 over the separate clags
rooms for every standard, the big CEN
trail hall feR dgiA and exercises, and the
cheerful, airy passages, it is a comfort to
know that however stuffy and unsant
tary many Of the ehildFen's homes may
be, the best part OF their day Is neverfhe-
less spent in healthy and happy sur
roundings 1t is wonderful the moral
effect that well baift, well lit school
has on both teachers and scholars alike.
The attendance is always better, and
there is briskness and E1nartness about
the proceedings which Is very encourage
ing after the hstleSsness and depression
which is so often to be observed in an
III ventilated, oyercrowded school room.
We devote naturally large amount
Of trouble to the selection of urteachers,
and apart from the actual teaching quail
ifcations they may possess1 always feel
it to be poins Of great Importance to
secure masters and uzistFesses who viii
take an interest N their pupils outside
school hours-in their games and their
swimming classes and their country hoh-
days, etc. Often at the yearly distribu-
ton Of prizes, a function at which very
willingly preside, the teachers get UP
quite little entertainment
All the preparatory work done In COM
mittee has to receive the assent Of the
board at fts weekly public meeting be-
fore being finally adopted But the rec
ummendations OF q committee, unless
they raise some contentious point, are
most frequently passed ten bloc" with
out debate. The most Interesting dis
cussions usually arise over notices Of
motions, which may be put down by any
member, and are then taken in turn.
It was N TINS manner that motion in
favor Of free education was carried last
winter by large majority, thus greatly
strengthening the hands of the adyo-
Gates Of this most necessary reform. It
was also by a notice OF motion the other
day that Mrs. Besant and Mr.. Stewart
Headlan tried to Ye-raise the whole
question Of religious instruction by NOV
ing that Bible reading should be discon-
inued m all our schools, a motion which,
being considered at the present moment
inopportune, did not find a single sup
porter on the board
Parties are very fairly divided on
the present school board, which adds a
great zest to the divisions There are
about twenty Clericals or Diggleites, as
they are frequently termed, and an
equal number OF Progressives or Radi-
Gals, but between the two there stand
about a dozen 80 called Moderates, who,
on the whole, more frequently vote with
the former than with the latter party.
Mr.. Diggle combines in his person func-
tons analogous TO those of speaker Of
the house Of commons, q leader of the
government. He acts both as chairman
Of the board and as leader of the Cleri-
from time to time produces unfortunate
results. As chairman ''pur ct simple"
Mr. Diggle is admirable, with an i'm
lnense knowledge of business and con-
sense Of equity, but when par
ty considerations happen to intervene
his Judicial impartiahty is apt to fail
him. On our side-for fancy need
my place is among the Progressists-tke
Hon. Lyulph Stanley, clever member
Of an exceptionally clever family, is ono
Of the ablesb edueationahsts and a very
leading spirit, although he finds himself
pretty frequeotly in antagonism to those
members possessed Of Socialistic lean
Ings.
We four lady members of the school |
board form a very harmonious little !
quartet in spite of the various differ |
3nces of opinion that naturally exist be- |
tween US. Oar senior member, Miss |
Davenport Hill, has for many years ex-
ended her special protection over the |
feminine branches of edu-
alton, such as sewing, cooking and |
aundry work. Her influence has GER
sainly been most beneficial in these de-
our methods of teaching sew
ng to large classes being so successful |
hat we have been frequently applied to
or advice On the subject from both
america and Australia. Mrs. Maitland,
who has had much local experience OF
chools in her own division OF Maryle-
zone, devotes her energies mainly to
choOl management AID the selection Of
while Mrs. Annie Besant dill
sently pushes forward all the labor CUES
ions and does her best to infuse the
OF the board with a Socialist
piTit. 1t is mainly owing to her exer-
ions that the board now declines to give
ontracts for schools to any employer
Who does not pay the trades union rate
f wages, q change which was not effect
d without fierce struggle. She is also
n ardent supporter of free schools and
rec meals.
As for myself, ] have so far abStained,
from taking up any special
ne of action as woman. 1t seems TO
le far more important that women
hould learn to take their full and equal
hare of intellectual work side by side
nth men than that they should erect
themselves into a body with separate
nd possibly antagonistic claims and in
erests, This in no way affects my very
nm belief in the immense advantages to
e gained by the presence of women on
ns board. In the ordinary routine Of
Esiness there arise numerous little
oints respecting eisAer the instruction
the girls or the comfort aud well be-
lg of mistresses and pupil teachers
hitch II is obviously womsn's province
} decide. To me, personally, the whole
-ork Is full Of neTuS failing interest;
Is thoroughly practical IN the best
'nse, and in working FOR the welfare Of
le rising generaHoo re have g satisfaO-
ny conviction that we are at least be-
inning at the right end.