The Washington bee. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1884-1922, 1895-08-03
OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
GOOD ADVICE.

4 sCiN IS iiiOok
for the people of the District to consider
is the proper management of the public
schools.
| Some years ago it was my good for
tune to become superintendent of the
white and colored schools both for the
county and cities for two of the wealth
lest counties in the State, having in my
employ two hundred teachers. The
years spent in this position gave splen
did opportunity hot only of studying the
school system of that and other sec
tions, but study as we'll Of the neces-
sary qualifications of both officers and
| teachers.
1t was my candid opinion then, and
is now, that the school officers who
| were the most efficient were those who
did not seek the positions. refer to
| trustees. Indeed, SO thoroughly was |
| imbued with this idea that whenever it
became my duty, as it some times did,
| to appoint a trustee | invariably de-
Clined to nam any one seeking the po-
sition.
1hlrty-nlne years ago | attended the
first school taught in the territory of
Kansas, since which time | have, with
much interest, watched the develop
ment of the school system in that State.
Until 1857, the positions more sought,
perhaps, than any others was to become
a member of the school board. Often
times saloon-keepers, gamblers, men
of Well-knoWn immoral characters were
elected. In many sections of the State
more or less scandals came to light in
the schools, and many teachers were
disgrace to the profession; but how
could this have been otherwise? lust
what the officers were so was some of |
the teachers; what the teachers were
so was many of the pupils. These |
things go hand and hand 1t is Just as |
impossible for an impure teacher to give
out good to the children under her
charge-the future men and women
as it is for pure limpid water to come
from a polluted fountain. If her life is
not correct one; if her daily thoughts
be not pure, how can she shed purity
among the children?''
In 1887 the splendid women in Kan
sas decided that change was needed
in matters relating especially to the
schools, and most eloquently plead
with the legislature to grant them suf-
traSe in municipal affairs, very largely,
because of the mismanagement of the
schools; to weed out immoral charac-
terS-a desire for better morals, both in
officers and teachers. 1t was my good
fortune TO aid in this agitation and was
present upon that memorable day when
the final vote granting them the right
to vote was taken
Since that time the women there have
given much time to the proper manage
ment of the schools, until it is difficult
to find man in any community who is
willing to become candidate for the
position of member of the school board, ,
so thoroughly do the women investi-
gate his character. Now the office, as
II should, seeks the man, and the man :
not now the office. Iventure the asser.
ion that there does not exist in anv
State, possibly with the exception of l
Wyoming and South Dakota, better !
of the schoolS-free from I 2,
scandals and immoral characters in
hem as teachers than in Kansas. {
This is due to the watchfu eye of the q
rood women in that State =
| spent some years in Wyoming and t
south Dakota, where | studied and I
earned much of the school system and
where the women have V
bsolute and complete control, more t
argely so in Wyoming, and higher
tate of morals does not obtain ANY, :,
there. An immoral character has n
ever been known in any of the schools s.
With women at the helm in Wyoming q
he is the best governed State without 11
oubt III the Union. The very pressure IL
f good women in affairs makes inn n
loral men quake and seek other quar- u
ers. The immoral teacher knows that =.
ley have no show under her severe and D.
Xacting sisters. III
1t was wise act upon the part of 6
ongress to permit the Commissioners y.
name women among its trustees. 1t b,
ust and will result in much good to
lie schools. 1t will assist very largely d
wedding out of the schools teachers III h
hose usefulness, because of their con-
let, has become impaired, if not or
holly destroyed. The very presence -.
women as members of the board will a., a.
I've a tendency to assist the other
embers in doing their duty in the di- al
ction indicated. Ell
We cannot be too careful IN lending -,
II support in the selection of trustees VIZ
, me there is, in my mind, always
mt of suspicion, and | think in the
nds of many, when we find a man eis