New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-05-19
WOMEN TO BE APPOINTED.

MAYOR scHIEREN HAS DECIDED TO PUT SOME
ON THE BROOKLYN BOARD OF EDUCATION.
Mayor scheren has positively determined to ap
point some women the Brooklyn Board OF Edu-
cation lie said that this the case in answer to
direct question one day last week. but added that
1t had not been decided how many women will be
chosen. The Mayor has always believed In allowing
women to take active part in school matters. and
would have included among the fifteen appoint
ments made by him year ago had Ii not been for
the peculiar conditions then existing in the Board.
Tho Ring element had had the upper hand for
year. and was determined to keep 1t II possible. Ii
necessary, therefore. to strengthen the anti
Ring forces much as possible. and II was not
thought wise to subject women to the strain OF
political contest at the outset. 1t was believed that
this would be unfortunate beginning OF an ex-
pertinent which the Mayor and many other intelli-
gent citizens desired to see tried under favorable
conditions
No such contest will occur this year. for there will
be no opposition OF importance TO the reelection OF
President Swanstrom. Mayor scherens APP
poin,ments will strengthen the better element In tho
Board and will leave the opposition In hopeless
minority.
There Is some fear that the appointment OF women
members will have an unfortunate bearing upon the
High School principaship contest; that the women
selected members may be unduy Influenced In
behalf OF the candidate whose claims to the place
are based chiefly upon the fact that he Is Brook
Ign man, though he was as truly an outsider when
he came to Brooklyn to assume the prIncIpashp
OF school Mr.. Hull the candidate OF five OF the
members Of the High School Committee. Is
now.
former member Of the Board of Education.
man who has taken deep interest In the welfare OF
the schools OF Brooklyn. asked the other day
what his views were on the question OF appointing
women on the Board
II am decidedly In favor OF IT," he replied, PRO
vded 1t Is made the fixed policy OF the city. In my
opinion 1t would be well TO have one-third OF the
members women, matter whether the Board
continues to have forty-ive members Is reduced
TO fifteen or tweny-one any other number.
Women have special fitness for this work. and 1t
would be easy 10 find good women who will de-
vote the necessary time to 1t to find good men.
But would have It a matter OF fixed policy Per-
haps 1t ought to be put into the law. think 1t Will
not be good thing II five members appointed
by the Mayor this year. and when the time comes
round his successor refuses to appoint any women.
They tried IL in NewYorl, and II did not work well
on the whole because there settled policy. 1t
IL a singular and significant circumstance that the
women teachers do not want women the Board.
Perhaps they think they can have their own way
with men more easily. but fancy they imagine that
women having more leisure. would devote more time
to the schools and so ascertain their defects and the
teachers shortcomings more than men likely
TO do.
Now. In regard 10 the High School matter, i
would like TO say one word. 1t to me that the
High School Committee ought to go right ahead and
settle the question OF the principashp without fur
Their delay. / am Informed that ivo members OF the
committee favor certain candidate. while two want
another man to get the place. That committee IL the
strongest committee In the Board to-day. 1t can
AFFORD force the and bring the matter before
the Board at any time. AS for the feeling OF the
Teachers Committee. that Is only matter OF con-
lecture there has been no test made yet ! peiieVe
that the Board would never go back on eomnittees
II did II would have " take the responsibility.