The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-06-18
BICYCLE RIDING AND ANKLES.

| DASiSLL hIDlNu AMI hNhLLS.
The school trustees OF Long Island viii
lage have formally discussed the question
"Is the riding of bicycle by a young
lady an improper practice'" The result
of the discussion was an order prohibit
ing lady teachers from riding bicycles to
the schoolhouses.
The reasons given by these learned and
moral trustees for their action are worth
attention, and are quite unique enough to
merit recording in imperishable type.
Said one, justice Of the peace:
consider that it is not an edifying spec
tacle for our boys and girls 10 SEQ their wo-
men teachers ride up TO tho schoolhouse door
every day and dismount from a bicycle.
Sooner or later IL would cause the boys and
girls 10 lose respect for their teachers and
terminate in the complete inability OF the
<eachers 10 maintain discipline. | consider IL
improper for any young woman TO ride a
bicycle. and 1t is particularly out Of place for
a school teacher.
This solon come to judgement adds, re-
gretfully, that his board cannot prevent
teachers riding before or after school
hours, or when away from the school
buildings, and "if the teachers ride, the
scholars Will" Another trustee, doctor,
takes still more fearsome view of the
terrible consequences that might follow
in the track of the pneumatic tire:
II is not the proper thing for the teachers
to ride bicycles. They wear skirts, Of course,
but IL we don't stop them now they'll want TO
be In style with New York women and wear
bloomers. How would our schoolrooms look
with the women teachers parading among the
boys and girls in bloomersH They might
just as well wear mems trousers. / suppose
1t will come to that elsewhere. We are deter
mined to stop Our teachers before they 20
that far.
Here's state of thingsl Teachers on
Long Island, it appears, are not officially
considered to be possessed OF ankles; at
least they must exercise the greatest care
not to give their pupils any opportunity
for ocular proof They must not wear
trousers. Probably hereafter one of
the leading questions put to sweet girl |
graduates, who desire to assist the young |
idea in learning to shoot, will be that |
more or less celebrated query: "Do you
wear pants?''
These trustees have scented the battle.
though they do not believe it TO be afar
1h They mean to be ready for the fray
when the time OF battle comes. Trousers
worn by lady teachers shall never men,
'nce the morality of College Point, L.
:, schools-not IL the honorable board
,nows itself, and knows how to COR
ectly estimate the demoralizing effect of
brief glance at neatly turned ankle as
Is owner alights from her wheel at the
teps OF the temple OF learning. No
'rilby business for College Point, IL you
lease; therefore no wheels for young
idy teachers.
There's an old sea cap'n living some
here around Boston who has discovered
hat the earth revolves toward the West,
lstead OF toward the East, as we have
cen taught. He ought to be employed
J school superintendent by the College
oint school board. No filter person !
'uld be found. Then the trustees ought
provide expurgated physiologies. 7
nkles are doubtless referred to in those ,
xt books. ,
Barring other ankle-suppression meas a
es, we suggest to these trustees that g
dicious selection of teachers may prove
thoroughly preventive of ankle-mania n
nong the pupils, on their board as the I,
ppression of bicycle riding. There are n
iy teachers available, no doubt 1--WE q
low OF none, however), who have been u
highly favored by Nature as to elimin. n
, the ankle problem, as it presents ri
elf to their board. Why do they not, in r
word, employ teachers whose ankles may n
viewed as thesackcloth and rope girdle I,
d the scourge is viewed by devout nj
'nks-as a modification of the flesh. se
d as a cooling for blood too rebelliously y,
ated? 1t is for men to conquer tempta-
N; II should be removed from the
ung.
MUNICIPAL REFORM"