The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-02-02
WOMEN AS SCHOOL INSPECTORS.
New Public Duties Assigned to Them
by Mayor Strong.
New York Evening Post.

Mrs. W. S. Rainsford, wife of the rector
of st. Georges Church, the first woman APP
pointed school trustee In New York, and
one who has had some opportunity to
what the effect OF womans work in educa-
ton is, was asked to-day to give an opinion
OF the value, actual and political, Of a sys-
tenn of women inspectors which has been
put in partial operation by Mayor Strong.
II believe without qualification in the
she said, ''and in the potential value of
women in the work. This part of school
work has been allowed to lapse a good deal
more seriously there have already been
marked Improvements. and as soon as the
right class of women can be induced to
take the positions the value of the system
will be enormously increasd. The women
we need are cultivated women Of the leisure
class. Many of the evils which the schools
have had to contend with would not have
been possible IL the inspection had been
done as some women are doing 1t. The rea-
sons for womans peculiar fitness for this
work are apparent, but / would not have
them have a monopoly. Men and women
should work in 1t together But where can
give the time, from 9 o. clock in the morning
10 3 o'clock at night? The trustees and
inspectors who are trying TO lift up. the
offices from the state into which they have
fallen must give the better part of their
lives to it for several years What We need
is the better class OF women l wish with
all my heart they would come forward.
Thus far it has been very difficult to get
them. The first obstacle to be overcome is
their indifference 1t Is hard to awaken in
them a strong interest in the subject. Then
they do not like the publicity That was
the only reason that induced me TO come
forward. to make an opening in the hopes
that others would follow. Others have fol-
lowed but we want to see more and better
women offer themselves. 1t rests with
them. The Mayor and President Maclay
have given every encouragement.
The causes. apart from the fact that they
have more time, that make women es-
pecially adapted for the duties of inspectors,
- a
natural guardians of children, which men
are not. Second, they are natural house
housekeeping / include looking after the
sanitary arrangements and all the physical
details affecting the health and comfort of
the children. Third, the majority OF teach
ers are women, ard there is a good deal
of personal contact with the teachers Con-
tact with the children can be had only out
OF school, and women are more likely &c
make Ii a point TO be at the schools al
times of recess, when they can come into
contact with the children
THE effect of more woman's work on the
great evil OF the school system which af
fects all its branches, patronage, will be
good, for women do not take to patronage
They are conscientious. A great deal of
emphasis is put in the school laws on the
powers given TO inspectors in reference &c
this in a perfunctory way. signing any bills
sent to them, but some of whom / know
make a genuine investigation and will no;
sign bill until they know that il is a.
right. AS they have the right TO attend ali
OF the trustees meetings. where they car
hear discussed the matter TO which the bills
refer, there is no reason why this power
should be used In as perfunctory n manner
as IL has been heretofore In fact. in many
ways the inspectors are given by law more
powers than they actually use. SO the pres
ent need is not that their powers should b.
increased but that they should take full adj
vantage Of them. Now. under the present
involved system Of having two sets OF Of
fcers audit the bills, the inspectors toe
often sign bills merely because the trus-
tees have signed them; but there are ex.
ceptions to this rule.
"Among the duties OF the inspectors an
important one is TO attend the examinations
Of teachers. Every teachers license must bs
certified by them. and this is place where
they might do very valuable work What Is
true Of the auditing Is true here. Many treat
IL as n perfuuctory form. but a few refuse