The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-01-24
OUGHT WOMEN DE ON THE SCHOOL
BOARD?
To the Editor Of the Eagle.

To the Editor OF the Eagle.
''Of all sad words OF tongue or pen
The saddest are these 1t might have been"
Where are the mothers-and fathers
also-who, glancing backward down the
years that are flown, do not in their Utmost
hearts echo the above lines, when they
recognize the results of ignoranc, indiffer-
ence and prejudice along the line OF school
education of the children? "'Tis the let
ter of the law that killeth."
1t would seem from criticisms appear
ing in recent issues of your paper
by thoughtful mothers, that the school
system and rules devised wholly by and
from the man thought, has not proven as
wise and beneficial as desired
1t was my good fortune, short time
ago. to be "A guest for a few hours, Of
charming hostess, noted for her literary
and artistic taste. CHANGING at the
winsome, animated faces, l noticed that
some Of my companions were of Hypatia,
Others of the 4. 5. A, a small sprinkling
belonged to the w. G. I. T., and some
evidently were of no special
club, some were mothers and others were
not. None of this company looked old
or vixinish and the conversation became
general, many topics were touched upon
when some one suddenly said: Wichita
is such bright, progressive city, why do
you not have women on your school board?
all large cities and many small ones have
done so for years with excellent results.
Wherever there are children gathered to-
gether, the mothers influence. as well as
the fathers, should be felt'
The versatile hostess at once suggested
that as there were so many experienced.
capable women who had given the largest
part of their lives to school work in our
clty-and as none of them were at present
employed in their profession, it would not
be amlss to request one or more to write an
article for the EAGLE on Reasons Why
Women Should be on the School Board
and naming one, (whOse comprehensive
papers have given pleasure to many ask
her to present her views. If the quie.
Y oman who was appointed TO call upon
and present this request to the party nam
ed has done her duty. we shall doubtless
get some new ideas-even If they are not
CRITICISMS" A LISTNER
THAT very intelligent crowd in that
very literary home with all its very
aesthetic surroundings, including Lis
tener" herself, know that our public
schools, now, are almost wholly in the
hands of women. They know also that
they were presuming on good nature
when they proposed to use the columns
of the EAGLE TO foist, by such force or
pressure, some of their am bilious numbers
into public life, against which the EAGLE
is so hopelessly set. And, whatever
Hypatia may desire, or to whatever the Z.
;. A. may aspire, or the w c. T. l. may
want, ii is certain that not one woman in
five in all Wichita has any wish to see
said women put into the control Of the
business affairs of the board Of education:
in short, they are utterly opposed to the
scheme, aud would say so through the
EAGLE too. had they the temerity, pre-
sumption and assurance of those WON, II
who do want TO get into such positions.
IL is all right for these women to resolve,
and to send in their communications to
the EAGLE, if they So desire, but ii is
neither brave, manly or fair to do SO
annonymou-ly, As was done last week, or
to do as the writer Of the above did, request
the editor in a side note to keep still and
refrain from comment for reasons TO be
furnished sometime in the future. And il
Listener" Will permit we beg leave to
protest against her inference that Hypatia
endorses any such scheme. We have reason
to believe that that organization is mentally
the brightest of any boosted by our city,
socially, politically or otherwise, as Ger
tainly is it womanly aud capable; but its
members no more, as a body, banker after
political Office and public position than do
angels wish to be clipped of their wings
and be sent down TO earth to 90 it afoot
and alone through the mud; a fact that the
+. 5. A would be forced to appreciate if
ever they should be so unfortunate as 20
find themselves pitted against Hypatia in
this or in any other contest where brains
were the only allowable weapons.-ED.
EAGLE