New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-12-12
SELECTIONS FROM THE MAIL.
WHAT THE WOMEN DID FOR TIE SCHOOLS.
To the Editor Of Tho TIL bune'
Tho lnllorrInc mnmnrlnLmm eAplalns Msen !:

To the Editor Of Tho TIL bune
sir Tho following memorandum explains Itself:
In an editorial in recent issue OF lme Snlii ,nc
statement Is made that the women commissioners
have gone ont OF the Board of Education without
leaving any impression OF their work upon '"' puo"c
The article Is written in u very kindly splht and
shows wish on the part Of the writer t'at the nakor
had decided to have women on the board me writer
certainly has not been correctly informed, nor has
he followed carefully educational matters mad ne
done so lie could not. would not, make the state
ment quoted in his paper. The work OF the women
commissioners has made more lasting and beneficial
impression on The public school system than that OF
any other Of the commissioners who have ever been
the board. More than that. their work has been
Of any or all Of the men.
speak from PERSONAL knowledge OF what was done
by the women from ihe time The first two were, APP
pointed by Mayor Grace until the present time.
iIampcred they were by the opposition OF some nm,
commissioners. it Is marvel that they accomplished
what they did. Tho argument offered that Women
did not possess executive or legislative aDlIl~ Is
who have served possess that ability, but 1t was
backed by strong practical common sense, quality
markedly lacking in some Of the men.
such utlonS were presented In the board
nv the women wcr Of the greatest possible benefit
to the teachers and the adoption f one OF them chanIcd
absurd condition Of the law which affected un,
mvoably whole corps of teachers. Under the oh. old
the attendance in TIE schools decreased. In other
words the teachers made responsible for weather,
school OF the children. including removal from the
ne chborhood and illness. At the same time that tho
salaries were reduced the work was rendered more
arluous by the combination of grades; These reSo-
buttons bitterly opposed by the three men VINO
do not believe in the legislative ability Of women.
one OF those broke pledge given to the teachers
and when questioned about II said he had exercised
the woman's privilege OF changing his mind" Another
said that the teachers could not be trusted TO keep
M the attendance in their classes unless they knew
they wOuld suffer for It," Tie third invariably
voted against any and every measure that was for
The benefit Of the teachers and the records OF the
board prove Il.
owing to the womcn's work, too a teacher Is as,
surd. after certain number OF years service. liked
minimum salary. Before that teacher might work
for twenty years. and If no one above her left, at
the end OF that time she would receive the same
amount she commenced with; ,, -,
These two carried through the board have
left very decided impression OF the work on the
women on the school system. Whatever elcVateS
the teachers e,cvates the system.
IT Is only just 10 sly that there were few OF the
gentlemen commissioners WHO very ably aided the
women.
As TO the work for the system. 1t done in com
teachers can and do. tell OF grand IDEAS and plans
for carrying them out that pre- ntod by the
women. These ideas were framed INTO reports pre-
Senfcd and adOptcd bv the board. | cannot now ask
space to publish what I would like In regard to the
faithfulness intelligence, honesty ana patience win
which the women commissioners worried on every
detail Of evcsy matter that came to them OF their
kindly treatment Of each and every teacher who went
TO them for advice or assistance. Their very fidelity
to their trust acted against tlem and cost some or
them reappOintmcnt.
Each and every asks for fair play, and | do
not think II will be far of In the dim future before
fair play will Ne gwen 10 the four women who have
done so much for the childWn and teachers OF our
city. VI. b. MAOtAtLAND'
since the above was penned the brave and de
voted woman who wrote il has been called to her
reward. Miss Mary f. mcfarland died suddenly on
the morning Of December Z.
MRS. FRANCES FUNSTON.
New-York Dec. g, 1892.