The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-11-19

because. OF course. Mayor GRANT would
have furthcred the innovation II he had
yielded to his natural impulses. One Of the
hardest trials Of such an Office MS his Is tho
necessity OF disappointing applicants for
public places. but it is hardest OF all whom
the refusal must offend tho sensibiitics OF
women and skaters their laudabc ambi-
lions to extend their bcnciicent influences.
Tho Office OF n Commissioner OF Education
is without pay or any reward except
the consciousness OF public duty well and
faithfully performed. When. accordingly,
delegations OF women urged the Mayor to
continue the experiment of feminine repre-
scntation in the Board OF Education. they
were not seeking any selfish advantage.
Their motive was altruistic wholly. They
were anxious only for tho general advance
mcnt Of women, and for the particular
benefit OF the women teachers and girl
pupils in the public schools.
The theory on which they based their
plea also appeals powerfully to tho mas
culinc sentiment When, therefore. Mayor
GRANT decided to discontinue the fem
innc representation in the Board OF
Education, he must have been in
tuenced by stern sense of public duty
only. He felt himself forced to render
judgment adversely to the case Of the wo-
men after it had been fully argued and
after their theory had been put to long
and thorough test
This theory is that. as the great majority
of the teachers in the public schools arc
women. they are entitled to the especial
guardianship of women Commissioners and
N
their peculiar needs and trials. The result
of its test in practice seems to indicate that
these teachers prefer to have men rather
than women in authority over them. Tor
the very reason perhaps. of the bluntness
of masculine perception. They seem to liko
better the justice Of men than the intuition
OF women, or. at least. to be less afraid OF 1t.
Moreover. tho experiment OF feminine
representation in the Board of Education
has not conduccd to any change in the edu-
cational system. Tho presence of women
in that body has not been indicated in any
reforms desired by tho teachers or tho
public, though the necessity for improve
mcnt is great. They have left no mark
whatever on tho school system. though
their diligent and conscientious attention
to the minor and routine duties OF their
Office has been altogether praseworthy.
In all essential respects the schools and
the educational methods are the Same to-
day ms il there had never been woman
Commissioner. Tho policy Of tho Board
has been masculine policy wholly.
Naturally the men on it have been ready to
render Difference to their feminine COL
leagues. the usual Difference Of gentlemen
to ladies'. but the women Commissioners
have insisted on deferrng to the judgment
of the men in practical affairs so large and
Of so great public Importance. The result
has been simply analogous to what would
hnvo come from associating equally sensi-
bic and high-mindcd women with men in
the direction of great bank or a railway.
The decision OF Mayor GRANT. therefore,
casts no dscredit on the fidelity OF the
women Commissioners to the trust confided
to them. 1t rather bears testimony to their
good sense in not trying to overstep their
natural limitations.