The herald., 1898-03-12
IMPROVING THE SCHOOLS
AN INTERESTING PAPER By
CHARLES CASSAT DAVIS
How All Can Aid the Board OF Educa-
ton in Lifting the Schools
Out Of Politics

Any subject relating to the puphc
schools is always a guarantee OF large
and interested audience on all occasions
for none SO vitality concerns the public
at large as the welfare of the child, the
future hone of the republic. The large
attendance at the Friday Morning CLUB
yesterday was no exception u '"e .".o'
The paper Of the morning was ieau W
Charles Cassat Davis, president oi tne
hoard of education, 'How Can we Aio III
Improving the Board of Educahoh anu .ne
Schools?" He said in part Ihe iuhoa.
mental question is, not can you' pu' wiz
you, aid? In the public schoois we haVe
the foundation of the very citaoei oi ou'
republic. They are not under gooo Hah-
agement because they are under poh'ieai
management for political ends. Al poh'-
ical conventions the interest centers ABOUT
the officers controlling large PATRONAGE
and the school trustees are generaiiy inc
last nominations made. Among the disap-
pointed there are always sore spots ana
balm can be spread on the raw flesh ny
running the disgruntled one for schooi
trustee or some other small office.
IF the right man should be found ana
elected he finds a chilly atmosphere ana
Is out in the cold so far as influence goes.
He may fight against corruption, but he
fights against odds alone. He who thus
sacrifices himself longs for the end of his
term as does any convict"
AS a means of relief the speaker sug-
gested the following plan as a starting
point for reform in selection and election
of members of the board of education and
as a means of public education on the SUBJ
Ave lad "a
ganization with this object In view. Have
carefully considered and adopted plans for
arousing the interest of parents. Let the
plans provide for reaching all parents 70
personally urge upon their attention the
character and Importance of the work un-
dertaken, each to aid by her experience,
observation and advice. Let meetings be
held in each school district, or at most In
each ward; the topics to be few and prac-
tically arranged by the committee, IN
Guiding the wants of the school district
its weakness, lighting, sanitary condition
shade In school grounds and matters OF
general interest.
There might be short lectures and pa
pers stimulating to parents In the studies
and work of their own children. 1t must
draw together the poor as well as the
rich. Women cannot forget that silks
cards and calls cannot absolve them from
| the sisterhood of humanity. These meet
| ings might be made sort of post t-gradu-
ate course of study for parents and stim-
| ulate the whole community. Systematic
visiting of schools could be arranged fol-
! by parents; it would have good effect
on the teachers and parents might see
the deficiencies in their own children. The
main organization should be represented
| at every board meeting. keeping 1t in touch
with the affairs of the board and power
fully stimulating the better instincts of the
members 1t is fundamental that the peo-
pie should be reused to action. To sue
ceed in bringing about reform 1t is nec-
essary to do as the politician does-get the
votes. The wife and mother can do this
in spite of the politician. ~,
Mr.. Davis suggestions called out lively
discussion. Many plans were proposed by
which the work could be started at once
A suggestion made by Mrs e. T. Stevens
was finally adopted, that all women inter-
ested in the movement meet in Unity
church on Thursday, aMrch 17th at
o'clock to discuss plans and methods for
organizing. The Federation of clubs holds
its annual convention on that day. at which
women from all parts of the city will be
present. r,l