The Portland daily press., 1896-02-05
MISS JANE MEADE WEIGH.

~A~S~'<S W. vi ibuAdlO. IN. L. one Said
it was pleasure to have the opportunity
to express her belief in the efficiency of
women as school officers. She cited
several Instances of women's success in
this capacity In western cities, especially
in Buffalo, where the first women had
been appointed not SO very long ago, and
had made her work Indispensable. She
thought the movement another iIlustra-
ton of woman's progressiveness in all
professional fields and when not content
to teach the school year, she spent part
of her holidays in summer schools, ac-
agreed with the preceding speakers as to
| woman's love of order, and her sympathy
and conscience, but added that women's
brains could serve as powerfully for good
on school boards as in private life.
! Women were natural teachers and the
teaching faculty should be voiced on the
school board.
AUGUSTUS f. MOULTON. ESQ.
Augustus F. Moulton, ESQ.,. said that
he himself was q teacher at an early age,
and for fifteen years was on the school
board of Scarboro. Among those who had
been on the board with him were Seth L.
Larrabee. Esq, and Samuel ID. Plummer,
now sheriff of the county. At the end of
fifteen years they practically concluded
that they were failure and the people
concluded SO also. The members of the
board were so busy that they couldn't
give proper attention.
The town proceeded to elect a super
visor, and they put lady in complete
charge of the schools of the town. She
was lady of brain. She didn't start
with mission but proceeded in o bust
ness way and did what the men couldn't
do. attended to details. She became a
thorough school house keeper. He didn't
think women are smarter than men or
Wei versa. He was inclined to use the
word person and not man or woman.
(Applause.)
The last lady school superintendent of
Scarboro made a complete list of every
scholar and required that each should
send samples of their work to her by
mail. He acknowledged that the lady
supervisor was very much ahead of the
men at Scarhoro, in caring for details.
She looked upon her work more as
business undertaking than tho men did
because the latter hadn't the time. Both
in details and general management the
lady supervisor had been mora efficient in
Scarboro than the men.
In 1890, Cumberland, Otisfield, North
Yarmouth and Scarboro had lady super
visors. 1t seemed to him that it would
be an advantage to Portland to have both
sides on the school board. One would
suggest what the other would not. The
women would look out more for the do
tails, also the lady supervisor in Scarboro
had been more infiexible than men. If
teacher was not up to the mark they'd
say SO. They couldn't be coaxed out of it
as the men could, and their reports
rather more reliable.
MRS. HENRY L. DOWST.
Mrs. Henry T.. Dowst of Bangor, presi-
dent of the State Federation of Women's
clubs, was introduced and received with
applause. She said that she represented
a city where the system of both sexes in
the school board was no larger in an ex-
perimentaI stage, but established in the
approval of the best people. Since women
IS the natural companion of the child it
seemed unreasonable that she should he
excluded from the direction of schools. 1t
is the mother who would be quickest to
note the defects in vision or in health as
result of improper lighting or SANTA
ton. She thought that in the selection
of teach ers, women would be perhaps
most effective The unerring perception
of high minded women as to human
nature was dweit upon. Women would
prove disturbing element it had been
urged, but this had not been the case in
Bangor
AS to a practical results in Bangor the
confinement in sanitation was remark
able. Some were groaning under the
extra taxation, but if this could realize
the value of 1t their groans would be
turned to plaudts.
When the woman Was placed on the
Bangor school board, she was elected to
the SUPPLEMENTARY of the schools. She
has made it a business and has put great
enthusiasm and energy into her work.
Mrs. Dowst said that she was proud
of this prowess of her city.
MR.. J. B. DOMAIN.
Mr.. j. B. Donham, was introduced by
Mrs Hunt, who said it was very crafty
ing to have resident of Ward one speak
since that is one of the wards that they
hoped to elect a woman in. Mr.. DON
ham spoke at frsu'sof the value of wisdom
in the administration of our school
affairs. He referred to the necessity of
care and thought and time and labor on
the part of all members of the school
board. He thought that the greatest care
was necessary in making selections of
members of the committee. We had not
always done this in the past in Portland.
He believed that the school board should
be made up by lady and gentleman
fx,<>x. Nh, ouJ 50 ,4ry III cof6 hot