The Monitor-register. [volume] (Woodstown, Salem Co., N.J.) 1892-1972, 1897-09-03
The School Suffrage Amendment to
the Constitution of New Jersey
Heartily Endorsed by the
Highest Authorities of
the Pnhlln Snhnnls

the Public Schools.
School suffrage for women is no novelty
10 our State, and it has been found to
work so we'll in practice, that the highest
officers connected with our Public School
System are heartily in favor of the
Amendment to the Constitution restor-
ing to the mother sex the privilege
of voting for school trustees.
A number of these gentlemen have been
asked for their opinions, extracts from
which we subjoin.
Hon. CharlesJ Baxter, Superintendent
of Public Instruction for the State of
New Jersey, writes:
II am heartily in favor of the proposed
Amendment to the State Constitution,
restoring to women the right to vote for
members of school boards, and regreat it
does not include all cities and towns
operating under special charters. |
believe the ratification of this amendment
will tend to the best possible election Of
school officers, will secure more
interested, and consequently more
intelligent and effective supervision of
our schools, and thus prove decided
educational gain to the State. The
| mothers are nearer to the children and,
consequently, the nearest to the schools.
1t is also true that their conceptions as to
| suitable school environment and proper
school il fuences are more nearly ideal"
The members of the State Board of
Education have been asked for their
| individual opinions of the Amendment.
The President, Hon. James s. Hayes, has
signed as citizen, not as an official, an
appeal urging all good citizens to vote
for the Amendment.
DR.. Steven Pierson Of Morristown,
member of the State Board of Education,
expires ses himself as heartily approving
of the Amendment.
Elmer G. Sherman, Superintendent for
Essex Co.. writes:-"I am in hearty
sympathy with your efforts to secure an
Amendment to the Constitution of our
State, allowing women to vote for mem
bers of Boards of Education. 1t is my
observation that in all cases where there
are contests in regard to school matters
in a community, the women are always
on the side of better school advantages.
Their participation in the election of
school boards will, am sure, result in a
better class of citizens being elected to
that responsible position"
B. Holmes, Superintendent for Union
Co., says that he is heartily in favor OF
the restoration of the privilege in ques-
ton, and adds:-"A mother surely con-
siders the welfare Of the child of the first
Importance, and it certainly is important
that she should have a voice in the
selection of those who are to aid in it's
training and education"
James D. Donnel, Superintendent for
Passaic Co., writes 1.-THE Amendment
is good one, and it ought to be favored
by all classes who have the interests of the
schools at heart. No one tan refuse to
support it at the coming election, and all
friends of the true welfare of the coming
men and women of the State, now
children, ought to see that it is approved
at the polls. Women are just as good
Judges of the wants and conditions of the
needs of our sob ools as men, and this is
movement in the right direction"
Rev. ]. A. Msbs, Superintendent for
Somerset o., writes:-"I most heartily
favor the proposed Amendment to the
State Constitution for two reasons partic
ularly. First because it is a manifest
absurdity, as we'll as gross injustice to
woman to grant her the right of voting |
upon all questions that come before |
school meetings, and even that of eligi- |
bility to the Office of school trustee, and |
yet deprive her of the right to vote for |
the election of members of Boards of |
Education. Secondly, because, since |
women have the deepest interest in the
right of saying to whom the work Of |
supervising the education of youth ought |
to be entrusted"
The following is an extract from
letter from John Enright, Superintend-
ent for Gloucester Col have seen the
very salutary effects of woman's inhu.
ence in voting for appropriations for
school purposes, and know that it will
be most wholesome to extend to her the |
privilege of voting for those persons who
direct the conduct of our schools. l heart
lily favor the amendment
John Terhune, Superintendent for |
Bergen Co, expressing himself as
thoroughly approving the Amendment,
says "Many new school buildings
containing the latest sanitary improve
nents, erected in this county during my
term of service, are the direct results of
women's votes"
Many other letters have been received
which bear similar testimony. Since
this amendment is so strongly endorsed
by men specially familiar with the needs
and requirements of our public school
system. it would seem as if it would Ger.
tainly find favor with the voters all over
the state at the polls on September 28th.