Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1890-06-14

n. .t3r Of free education was carried last
winter by a large majority, thus greatly
strengthening the hands Of the advo-
Gates of this most necessary reform. II
was also by notice Of motion the other
day that Mrs. Besant and Mr.. Stewart
Headlam tried to re-raise the whole
question Of religious instruction by NOV
ing that Bible reading should be discon.
tinued in all our schools. motion which,
being considered at the present moment
inopportune, did not find single sup
porter on the board.
Parties are very fairly divided on
the present school board, which adds
great zest to the divisions There are
about twenty Clericals oI gleites, ms
they are frequently termed, and an
equal number of Progressivcs or Radi-
calls, but between the two there stand
about dozen so called Moderates, who,
on the whole, more frequently vote with
the former than with the latter party.
Mr.. Diggle combines in his person func-
tions analogous 10 those of speaker Of
the house of commons, leader of the
government He acts both az chairman
of tho board and as leader of the Cleri-
Gals, combination which inevitably
from time to time produces unfortunate
results. A a chairman ''pur ct simple"
Mr.. Diggle is admirable, with an i'm
.mense knowledge Of business and con-
siderable sense of equity, but when par
ty considerations happen TO intervene
his judicial impartiality is apt to fail
him. On our side--for fancy need
hardly inform my American friends that
my place is among tho Progressists--th
Hon. Lyulph Stanley,a clever member
of an exceptionally clever family, IL one
of the ablest educationalists and very
leading spirit, although he finds himself
pretty frequently in antagonism to those
members possessed Of Socialistic lean
ings
We four lady members Of the school
board form very harmonious little
quartet in spite Of the various differ
cnces of opinion that naturally exist be-
tween us. Our senior member, Miss
Davenport HILL has for many years OK
tended her special protection over tho
distinctively feminine branches of edu.
cation, such as sewing, cooking and
laundry work. Her influence has GER
tainly been most beneficial in these de-
paTtments, our methods Of teaching sew
ing to large classes being so successful
that we have been frequently applied to
for advice ON the subject from both
America and Australia, Mrs Maitland,
who has had much local experience Of
schools in her own division Of Marylo-
bone, devotes her energies mainly to
school management and the selection of
teachers. while Mira. Annie Besant dill
gently pushes forward all the labor ques-
tions and does her best to infuse the
proceedings of the board with Socialist
spirit. II is mainly owing 10 her exer-
tions that the board now declines to give
contracts for schools 10 any employer
who does not pay the trades union rate
of wages, II change which was not effect
ed without a fierce struggle. She is also
an ardent supporter Of free schools and
free meals.
AS for myself, have so far abstained,
Intentionally, from taking up any special
line Of action IA woman. II seems to
me far more important that women
should learn to take their full and equal
share of intellectual work side by side
with men than that they should erect
themselves into a body with separate
aud possibly antagonistic claims and in
tercsts, This in no way affects my very
firm belief in the immense advantages to
be gained by tho presence Of women on
the board. In the ordinary routine of
business there arise numerous little
points respecting either tho instruction
Of the girls or the comfort and well be-
ing Of mistresses and pupil teachers
which it is obviously woman's province
to decide. To me, personally, the whole
work is full of never failing interest;
it is thoroughly practical in the best
sense, and in working for tho welfare of
the rising generation we have satisfac-
tory conviction that we are at least be-
ginning at the right end.