The San Francisco call., 1895-11-12
The Women Would Make Better
Directors Than the
Men Do.
THE VIEWS OF MR.. BABC0CK.
What Members of the Board of Educa.
ton Say They Will Do if a
Woman Is Nominated.

The talk in school circles at this
time turns on two points. The one is as
to how the courts will decide in the
matter of the superintendent, and the
other, who will be named to succeed
Charles b. Stone, who resigned the office
of School Director 10 accept the Office of
Deputy Superintendent under Madison
Babcock. Some are of the opinion that in
view OF the fact that in many cities women
are on school boards and have proved very
successful it would be a wise move to
nominate a competent woman to fill the
vacancy caused by the resignation OF Mr..
Stone.
1t will fall to Superintendent Babcock to
name the one who is TO fill the vacant seat,
but whether it will be man or woman
is not known at this time.
81 do not know why a woman would not
make a good member of the Board of Edu-
cation,' said Superintendent Babcock yes
terday. "Women bring children up until
j. is time for them to go to school; they
teach them in the schools, and do not
know why well-educated sensible mother
would not make a good School Director;
but ii is a subject that [ had not given
any thought. AS yet no one has been Sc
lGCleO 10 TAKE Tie pldCG III IAe OOdl0 CdusSQ
by the retirement of Mr.. Stone. The idea
of woman in the board had not en- tered
my mind, but it is one that may be con-
sidered.'
1.-The possibility of q woman being nom-
mated to ill the vacancy in the board, 4"
said Henry L. Dodge, the president of the
board, lis something new, but l have no
objection to a woman being appointed,
with the understanding, of course, that
she be qualified for the position. Women
have done well in other cities, but how
they would do here | do not know. Women
have been nominated for the office of
School Director several times, but the vote
they received was not very large.
81 do not think, F" continued Mr.. Dodge,
"that any teacher in the depart tment
would be willing to give up her position
for the sake of the honor of being School
Director for a short time-an office without
pay. Still there are many competent
women in this City who are deeply inter
ested in educational matters who could fill
the position"
My views as to q woman being named
for School Director to succeed Mr.. Stone2"
said Auguste LIE Comte. "Well, it would
hardly be fair for me to say anything in
regard to a nomination | shall be called
upon to either indorse or reject Still [
will say that there is nothing TO prevent
a good competent woman from becoming
a good School Director. There are several
women teachers IN the School Department
who would make excellent Directors. On
reflection, while | do not want to influence
Mr.. BabcOck in his choice, | will say this,
if the right kind of a woman is nominated
to succeed Mr.. Stone she will have my
vote"
Il have always been in favor of women
in the Board of Education" were the first
words of Director C. A. Murdock, when
asked what he thought of a woman to
succeed Mr.. Stone as School Director.
They can devote more time and atten-
ton TO educational matters than men," he
continued, land / believe that they would
make better Directors than men. They are
better acquainted than men in the matter
of training the young; they understand
their minds and needs, and as they make
good educators why should they not make
good School Directors? | was in favor OF
having women placed on the Republican
ticket for the office of School Director, and
am still of the opinion that the names OF
women should appear on the ticket. l do
not know, OF course, who will be nomi-
mated, but would not object to woman
in the board"
Il am not in favor of woman in the
board as the successor of Mr.. Stone" said
Director 7. r. Carew. THAT is, / am
against only one woman in the board
because she would be powerless."
Several women who have acquired a
reputation as educators have been sug-
gested and it is probable that their names
will be submitted to Superintendent Bah.
cock.