The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-07-24
SCHOOL BOARDS.

Some Notes About the One That Controls
Schools in London.
Editor W0nldn's Column, Morning Call.
California men have not evoluted sufficiently
to demand that women be on our School
Boards, and California men are about as
apathetic; to be sure the law permits
women to hold school offices, but as it does
not give women the school ballot a woman
is never elected outside of small districts,
in which the political influence is valueless.
Still in towns the School Board is STEP
ping-stone to higher Office, a means TO pay
political debts; still good faithful teachers
are TUNED off for nothing but because ''they
are married." or have taught some time,
and some one else ought to have the place" !;
still teachers are selected by the bosses by
the flip of a four-bit piece; and the best
service Is no surer of permanence than the
worst. No department of politics is more
corrupt than our school rings, yet we are
not quite sure that it would be well to let
mothers and grandmotherS have voice as
regards the school training of John and
Mary, and the idea prevails that school
money is to be used as sugar plums to be
distributed among the people not to reward
faithful, competent service by insuring per-
manence to the worker. with increase OF
salary. Study to advantage the methods of
England, for in some things our old mother
knows more than we. The Countess de
Graffenried's description of the present
London School Board is suggestive:
Unlike most OF its American prototypes the
London Board of Education Is elected by the
people The districts choose, according to
population. from two 10 ten members, represen-
tation being 50 arranged that each member
visits and oyerooks from eight TO twelve schools
Appointed by the board members OF every dis
trlct aud having personal care OF particular
schools, aIe special visitors or managers
servants Of the board. doing nothing without its
direction. These managers perform house
10 house vIsltatloni every house in every street
Is In their books and details are gwen OF every
family with children of school age. They begin
their scheduling two or three years before the
children attain school age, and record remains
on their books of children who have left school.
Most OF the visitors have been working In the
same district for several years and thus have an
extensive knowledge OF the people. IL Is their
business 10 reSchedule for the board once 4
year, but intermediate reVisions are made In
addition, and IL Is their duty TO make themselves
acquainted, SO far as possible, With newcomers
Into their districts"
On this thorough Information the Board OF
Education bases its measures. Public sessions
are held Thursday afternoons at 2:30 o'clock, IN
building overlooking the Thames emDankmeut,
not FAR from Blackiriars Bridge.
The cost OF supporting the beard schools had
been for Two years past, il WAS alleged in the
neighbOrhoOd OF 81 1Ss Cd for each pupil-not a
large outlay as compared with expenditures for
public education In the United States. In Lon
don school rates are special lax and, including
the new technical and training schools main
taned by G0vernmant,o often amount 10 over
shilling in The pound.
The personnel of the board is both notable and
thoroughly cosmopoliisn, and there is au element
without which no modern English movement Is
cOmpietr-women.
Tie four ladies rearesentlng large constituent
Giles IN the educational councils OF London stand
for all that Is best iu the crusade for woman's
advancement; under every disadvantage their
Official equality win men has been won, ana
Then invaluable service, united 10 conscientious
ness and moderation, has secured beyond pos
sibility of reaction this prominent position for
mr. iDfi "a
ranks Miss DayeupOrt-Hill. niece OF Sir Row
land Hin, who established the penny post,
brilliant economic achievement, rewarded by
statue IN Westminster Abbey. Miss Hill is fam
iliar with progressive educ ti0nal systems abroad,
having Travelled widely on the Continent, in Aus.
tralia and In America The sitlings Of the board
sometimes last III o'clock and later. iutermit-
ting only 1or the English function of hve-oco
tea; and duiing all these tedious hours Miss Hill
pursues Tie truly feminine habit Of sDitting
bu>iiy, never losing a word or missing vote.
Her colleague, Mrs. Maitland mas face and
figure that might be matched by hundf eds III
any American temperance or suffIag assemblyi
keen, thin, sunhe Ell, fresh compleXloned coun-
tenance, ylvacious manner, and she is attred
fega dless OF fashion, therein the Opposite OF an
oiner board member. the trim, stylish, Mrs. Ash
ton-DIlke, Who like her sIster-in-iaw, Lady
Dilke. Is in The van Of the fight to extend
woman's franchise. Moving uuconceruedy
about the hall, sieakng 10 one associate
stopped by another. demanded by visitors, writ
ing lei ers al the solicitation Of outsiders. Mrs
| AshtOuDil finally glided away, possibly TO
some feslivity; FOR such the calls upon the
English lady OF to-day that she must embody
| three characters-skillful woman OF business
| votary of society, aud wise, prudent, moihery
| head uf a home
Bowed over a desk leaning YEARLY sometimes
| on b nded aims, WAS u clOse-cropped dark
strong head, which, when lifted revealed the
waving lresses and somber ytsage OF Annie
BesdnI.
The usefulness of the London Board of Educa-
tiOn, lis great achievements In the brief time
siuce the constructive period for board schools
set in, It's present Elasticity 10 public sentiment
and demands, are due In large measure to its
divorce from politics. Fitness and faithful
service are Tie requisites. not party affiliations
| or prospective parry patronage. Leaders OF
thought are chosen by the voters TO mold aud
carry out their educational system; men with
| whom The cause of learning or the eds of the
masses have been life study; clergymen whose
| graphic experience with human nature VIII
translnuie itself INTO wise laws; women entitled
to direct public education, either from their
mental equipment or their impo tant relation 10
| social reforms. S. 5.
L IL