Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1899-06-01
WOMEN EDUCATORS.
TWO WHO HAVE CHARGE OF THE
SCHOOLS OF COLORADO.

Mrs. GrenfeII Is State superintendent
and Mrs. Peterson Is Her Deputy.
Both Have Been Teachers and Have
Come Up From the Bottom.
copyright. 1893. by American Press Asso-
ciationl
1t is very evident that as women are
being tried in positions of public trust
and responsibility they are not found
wanting; ON the contrary, they are
found to possess ability, Judgment and
a conscientious devotion TO duty which
make them invaluable in many public
positions heretofore considered as be-
longing entirely to men. Especially is
this true in matters pertaining to edu-
cation.
After an experience of several years
with woman as superintendent of
public instruction, Colorado has again
elected woman to that position with
the unanimous vote of all parties. No
more fiattering recognition of woman s
fitness and ability in guiding the educa
tional interests of state could be given
than the unanimous choice of woman.
irrespective of party affiliations.
Mrs. Helen Loring Grenfell, the pres
ent incumbent is beautiful, cultured
and earnest woman, who will give a
great impetus to education in Colorado,
az her past record in educational mat
tiers shows. and the citizens of the state
may well congratulate themselves that
such capable, practical and earnest
woman will sacrifice life of ease and
comfort for the duties, cares and re-
sponsibilities of superintendent of pub
lie instruction.
Mrs. Grenfell is home loving. do
mestic woman, whose personal happi
ness would be best consulted by remain
ing quietly at home; but, having no chill
dren. she feels it her duty to respond
when the Office seeks her.
Mrs. Grenfell is a descendant of the
old Puritan families of White and
Thatcher, her father being one of the
Lorings of Boston. While she was born
in Valparaiso, Chile. she was brought up
in Colorado where most of her educa-
ton was received. She attended the AL
bany normal school. as preparation for
teaching, in which work she was en-
gagged for eight years previous TO her
marriage to Mr.. Edwin l. Grenfell
She was chosen superintendent of
schools in Gilpin county in 1896, and
when the time for election next came
she was nominated upon every one of
the four political tickets in the field
Her success in administering the
schools of Gilpin county attracted SO
much attention that the nomination for
state superintendent of public instruc
ton was offered her by the unanimous
choice of all parties on the fusion ticket
last fall.
Mrs. Grenfell has always been a firm
Republican. and while not a politician
in the sense usually attached to that
word has evinced so much clear judg-
ment, sound sense and answering in
tegrity upon all questions that her
opinions and advice are invariably
sought by the lawmakers of her own
county and already receive marked at
tention from others of the state.
She was the first woman candidate to
accompany the nominees for governor
and for secretary of state on their tour
preceding election, when. by her quiet,
sensible and powerful addresses she
won many votes for the ticket.
Mrs. Grenfell has appointed as her
deputy Mrs. Celia F. Osgood Peterson.
an equally brilliant woman, who is de-
voted to the cause of education and
writer of note along educational and
progressive thought lines. Mrs Peter
son was appointed entirely upon merit.
and without any political pull what
ever, she being a Democrat, while the
state superintendent is a Republican.
If for no other reason than that women
will consider fitness for office rather
than party, they are most desirable for
public offices of trust and responsibility
Mrs. Peterson is also an eastern wom-
an, born in Exeter. Me-, and brought
up in Medford, Mass, where she was