New-York tribune., 1896-10-31
MRS. JACOBS DECLINES.
SHE WILL NOT BE CHAIRMAN OF THE
ATTENDANCE COMMITTEE

OTHER DUTIES INCUMBENT on HER As MEM
BER or THE BOARD or EDUCATION TOO
PREssING-MR. M'NAMEE To BE CHAIR
MAN OF THE MANUAL SCHOOL.
II wa. learned Yesterday that Mrs. Mary r. Ja-
cobs one Of the Ave women appointed members OF
tha Board OF Education by Mayor Schiero'' na"
declined the offer Of the chairmanship OF the '""i-
mittee on Attendance offered to her by PRESIDENT
Svanstrom This was the first time that the
chairrna nship Of of the standing coninn''ees
in tho Board had been offered to a woman. and the
appointment OF Mrs Jacobs was generally accept
ed as a moro distinct recognition OF the s'ahoins
Of women in the Board fhan had before been gwen
Considerable regret WAS expressed that Mrs. ia
oobs had felt impeled TO decline an honor Whlch
carried with II a considerable degree OF RESPONSE
bility hut those who were made acquainted Win
her reasons for so doing were convinced tnat sne
was fully justified in her action. friend OF Mrs
Jacobs who was familiar with al the facts made
this statement Of her position;
Mrs Jacobs is not unmindful or me honor dohe
her and the demonstration thus given that the
usefulness of women ss members OF the boaro o'
Education Is fully recognized Hnt tnis reuhalns
the same whether she accepted or declined There
ara sor,A circumstances under which she would
have been willing 10 accept this chairmanship she
IA deeply interested I'm the work OF the Schools
and devotes p great deal of her time IN her du-
ties as a member OF the Board. She is a member
NJ not less than ten local committees and the
chairman Of at least one. and she keeps herself
fully Informed regarding the schools over which
aha exercises supervision. She visits them ire
cuent,y knows the teachers. and knows what sort
Of work they are doing. She is also member OF
several Of the standing committees. the meetings
of which take not little time
Mrs Jacobs says that one has to engage in school
work 70 know what 1t Is and how much time II re-
quires and am that she is right. do not
are how an active business man can afford to give
the time 10 the schools that membership IN the
BOARD Of Education demands from those VINO 40
their duty as they should nor could woman WITH
family and domestic
Mrs. Jacobs has been member or the Attehu-
ance Committee since the committees were appoint
cd FOR the year last summer but the Truant Schooi'
which the committee has in its special charse' mas
been open less than two weeks. and as n,efnoer
of the committee she has visited 1t only once Nat
urally she feels that she scarcely knows enough
about the matter take control OF it, although she
would not permit that to stand IN the way II sie hu
moi made her plans for the winter on a d'hcrer'
basis She feels much interest in the WORK OF the
rruant School. and visited ii at least three times
las, vear when she was not the committee.
had she been appointed TO this chairmanship al
The middle of the year she would have accepted 1t
and made arrangements so that she could give t,ie
attention to ii that IL demands win hcr otner 1u-
ties In connection with the schools. and with her
church club and other social obligations sne nov, nov
feels that TO tahe the Craftsmanship or so npor tdil
a committee woulc be attempting too much, iei
Is good, and she feelS tndt Snc
not afford the risk OF breaking down. .Not
only would that be bad thing in itself but II wou9
be n blow to the placing of women on the Schooi
Board II would lead TO the belief mat women & a,e
not strong enough TO perform this work Next year
n Mrs Jacobs is asked TO serve as CHAIRMAN Oh tis
committed have doubt that she Will accept. ana
devote herself to the duties involved assiduously
The work of the Committee Attendance centres
In the TrIant School. The vacancy IN the cndlr-
ynanshp arises from the resignation by Max Bri OF
his Dlace in the Board Of Education He was clair-
man of the committee last year. and TOOK inuch m
tcrest In reorganiZing the old Iruant ffoint dilu
petTinr il in good running order as the Truant
school The work of the COMMITTEES VIII not De 80
heavy this year il last but still good deat
of responsibility is involved Mr.. Brill was one OF
the active working members OF the Boaro; ana ms
retirement leaves a vacancy that cannot DE easily
filled. . a., r.s,,ro,,on
Of DR. J. II RAYMOND. He was another OF the w0tn-
ing members-and perhaps not more tlal oie- tiu
~ the forty-flye come under this designation no
too was chairman of an important coinml.tee, tiaN
~ charge of the Manual Training High School. TO
wbich he gave much time and attention / ne chhir
ypapship of this committee. II was r1iiheo !es
terday has been offered by President Swanslroih
to John NcNamee who 1t is believed VIII acCepl u,
MT McNamee is another active worker. ana II VIZ"
since he lea rned OF Mrs Jacobss refusal 10 take
the rhairma nship offered her. Mr.. Swansiron nas
/ not selected any one for that posuoh. ~ ~ u
.trod that II will not be offered TO any OF the othe
four women on the Board. since non. OF 1net ias a.
feen a member of the committee as Mrs JACOBS ~;
me next meeting of the Board OF Educau0n VII. !!
,ske Mace on November 10 and II - possip'e tna M,
the new chairman Of the Attendance committee WIN
not he announced before that time - r. a
, MIS- JACOBS acc ember Of the Republican State Com
Snittee for the lid Congress District