New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-05-05
SCHIEREN FAVORS WOMEN.
HE THINKS MAYOR WURsTER SHOULD
PUT FIVE ON THE BOARD
OF EDUCATION
HIS OWN POLICY WHILE IN oFFIcE-THE EX-
PERTINENT MADE LAST YEAR HE REGARDS
AS A DECIDED sUccEss-oBsTAcLEs

PERTINENT MADE LAST YEAR HE REGARDS
AS A DECIDED sUccEss-oBsrAcLEs
THAT HAD TO BE OVERCOME.
Renewed interest in the question whether any
women will be appointed on the Board of Edu-
cation has been caused by the petition sent to
Mayor Wurster by representatives of fifteen
women's clubs and other societies. The only ex-
preston which the Mayor has made on the
subject has been an intmation that women
would be appointed; what he said was that In
his opinion the experiment had not been tried
long enough to determine its success.
That Is not the opinion Of many prominent
people in the city. including several members
Of the Board Of Education who have been
spoken to by the writer regarding this matter.
They frankly acknowledge that the experiment
begun by Mayor Schieren nearly year ago has
been a success. and say that the women men,
bers have conducted themselves with dignity
and good sense and that In their Judgment 1t
would be good thing for Mayor Wurster to
add to their number.
citizen who feels particularly keen In
terest In the subject Is ex-Mayor Schieren. who
took the initiative in introducing the new de-
parture. 1t Is generally known that prior to
his election as Mayor Mr.. Schieren q strong
advocate Of the policy Of placing women on the
Board of Education and II there had not been
special reasons governing his course he would
have made such appointments two years ago,
when the time came for him to name fifteen
members OF the Board Up to that time how
ever, the Board had been under political control
TO a large extent. and It was deemed wise to
strengthen the better element in 1t to the great
est possible extent by the appointment Of good
men, and. owing to the emergency that existed.
xyaa NOT fhOught n good time Introduce
new element. the introduction Of which would
be In the nature of experiment
petition was submitted by number Of
women's societies that year. but against his own
desire the Mayor felt constrained not to act
favorably on 1t. But when the next year came
round Mayor Schieren waited for no petition.
He took the matter in his own hands and re-
quested the various societies OF women to sub
nit lists Of names from which he might make
selections The result was the appointment OF
five women who by common consent have
proved acceptable and useful members OF the
Board although of course they are compare
lively small factor In body consisting of
forty-nve members.
THE EX-MAYOR SPOKE FRANKLY
When a call was made on Mr. Scheren at his
office in New-York yesterday, and his Views on
the appolntnent Of women were solicited, he
spoke frankly and earnestly on the subject.
and expressed his sincere hope that Mayor
Wurs.er would feel inclined TO carry forward
the policy which he (Mr. Schieren) initiated last
year.
For many years." said the ex-Mayor. "the
women OF brooklyn have made Efforts TO nave
some representatives OF their sex appointed as
members OF the Board of Education, and the
question had been agitated by the people and
tho prec,. Back in Mayor Lows time the move
ment hac acquired considerable force, and he
was on the point Of granting the favor demand
cd by the women. when for some reason ne de-
termined not TO do The subject was brought
10 the attention OF the following Mayors. whit
ney. Chaplin and Body. but nothing was done,
although In Mr.. Chapi1's time. II remember
rightly. n public meeting was held IN the Acad-
envy Of Music. at which DR.. storrs and other
eminent citizens spoke In advocacy Oh INC aP-
pointmcn: OF women.
when I entered the Mayors ofice reit
strongly inclined 10 give the matter trial In
fac, I vas preiudiced In favor of the women be-
fore was elected. There were special reasons
however. why I did not think II wise to introduce
the new policy the first year / was In office. al
though n petition was submitted to me by some
~ the leading women OF the city. But the next
year-that IT, n year ago-I took the matter In
hand early, and without waiting for a petition,
requested the various womens organizations 10
submit TO me the names of women who might De
annolnted TO serve on the Board. From these
names selected I'VE. - a. -,
~ may say that | had great difficulty In max
ing the seections-that Is, In nnding women III
various paris Of the city who were winng 10
serve 1t seemed wise to me that dinerent sec
lions should be represented l comlo nave ina ,he
all nv selections from ladies living on the
Heights but 1t did not seem well to me 10 90 So
In the end selected one from the FIRST ware
one from he sixth. one from the Twehtycthlru
ono from the Nineteenth and one from the Seven
teenth But no less than nine OF the ladies' 10
whom offered places declined to accept the APP
pontments for one thing because they ala not
wish 10 be the pioneers In the movement some
~ them felt that they could not give the time
necessary. and others that their health would not
permit them TO assume additional duties.
PRINCIPALS AND TEACHERS AGAINST 1T.
"While the subject under consideration
various principals and teachers In the public
schools came to me and implored me not TO APP
point any women; they feared that women MEM
hers Of the Board might be too inquisitive: that
,bev woud not understand our system Of public
education and that the teachers would be inter-
fered with I'm their work II the Innovation were
made. Some members Of the Board also took the
came course and besought me not to make the
contemplated appointments They thought such
appointments would be unwlse and that women
would be obstruction to the Work Oh INC
Board. a..
"But had made up my mind. and made the
Ave appolntmcnts: and am glad TO say tnat
snmo ~ those who protested against my doing 80
have since come to me and said that they were
mistaken. and that they now considered the APP
polntments q success; and members OF tne boar9
who oppos.d my course now state In public and
nrlyate that the women have proved excellent
workers and have had a refining and eevating
influence on the Board as a whole.
.,rb crk which the women members nave
done and the services they have rendered are a
record open for the examination OF any one who
wishes to look into the matter. They have done
veil The inquiries have made on the subject
fead me to believe that the appointment OF five
women has been great success. and am
strongly of the opinion that Mayor Wurster
should annoint five women this year and five
800 veor Then we should have Board or
-, ,nnn and fifteen women. which would be a