Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1900-03-29
Public School Visitors.

Mr.. EDITOR At the last school meeting
committee of women visitors to ths
public school was appointed the sale
committee composed of young girls whs
had graduated from the school within {
very recent period a bright, intelligent
company of girls who are fortunate il
having mothers able to advise them as Il
their duties, the duties that young girls ir
such a position might assume, but ths
question arises az to how far such duties
can be of any value?
Some years ago when this movement wat
first started, women of middle age were
appointed women old enough to receive
the confidence Of the teachers women
who had years of experience in the training
of children women who had studied our
public school system women who had
taught school, and knew the thousand and
one difficulties in the path of the teacher
women old enough to visit the families OF
the scholars and advise with the parents,
which was done in number of cases-and
little difficulties adjusted that would not
have remained little" if brought before
the Board of Education.
It has been found of the greatest adyan-
tage in many places to have women MEM
bers of the Board, but that not being pos
sible with us, much good was accomplished
Tor some time by the judicious appoint
ments made Of visitors.
! is not possible for active business
men to give sufficient time TO the visiting
of schools, and there is much work for
them as managers that women could not
do, at least do as it should be done, but
women know more of the needs of children
from the position in which Providence has
placed them. and are ,quainted with all
the small matters OF discipline, temperament
and general management Often differ
ences arise between teachers and parents
that could be adjusted by a third person of
no official standing but who has certain
right to interfere; one who can say while
my children were young" or when ! was
teaching schooin and talk over her ex-
perience for in the long run, pretty much
the same difficulties meet the teachers and
parents of to day as was the case with the
first family when jealousy and disobedienee
worked their wicked way.
II is pity 10 make travesty of what is
an excellent thing-Rnd what else can it
be when we think of children being put in
the positions Of advisers and confidents
to the women who have trained and taught
them. Oar teachers have to much self
respect to do other than continue TO bear
the troubles that could only be conf ded to
women of experience for many things do
arise, concern. ng which, their position
makes it very undesirable for them to
consult the officials of the schools, but
which could be easily inquired into and
then talked over by disinterested person
and the sphool hoard
To state the case very simply, would it
not be better to appoint as school visitors
women of experience, rather than young
girls, who, no matter how intelligent or
well educated, are scarcely past the days of
being in training, who have had no expert
ence as mothers, or teachers, or care-takers
of children
Our teachers, God bless them for their
high honor, their faithfulness and their.
dignity, could hardly be expected to go for
help to, or advise with those, who, not
three years ago, they would have had no
hesitation in keeping inf there was
any necessity for SO doing.
March 81, 1900 N.