New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-09-14
WOMEN ON SCHOOL BOARDS.
Good They May Do if Common Sense Is
Their Watehword.

Kate Gannett Wells writes interestingly of
Women on School Boards IN the September num-
Der OF The North American Review"
The success Of = school board de-
pends chiefly upon how far she is willing at first
10 subordinate herself. until she has understood
her new environment school legislation, present
fads and prospective ideals, says Mrs Wells IF
she begins her Official duties with the taCit
sumption even # only herself that she knows II
AL and that II is incumbent upon her TO reform
methods and measures instantly. she finds her
sphere Of usefulness narrowed.
IF. on the other hand, she observes carefully,
questions crcumspectly. keeps her differences to
herself. does not generaIize InductiveIy until she
has a wide acquaintance with facts and persons.
votes without aggreseiveness, she is sure TO grow
IN favor with boards. committees teachers. parents
she should no more ignore her sex than she
that she has been treated by her masculine CO
workers if she were man her declaration is no
self Having been elected because she is & woman,
she should never give away her -aigl-ly oE pc
she should be competent 70 regard al questions
presidents and possibilities. The more she is of
Vornan. using that word in its noblest sense the
greater VIII Do the good she can effect.
As proof Of the good that an individual woman
e member Of ire Boston school COMMITTEES for
ffteen years. tntrusted BY il with Important Pc
cred BY the masters. beloved by the women teach
- aG5- ti,u5s IN I'll her Official acts and who
adorned her pedagogic knowledge with grace Of
PERHAPS Boston. more than any other city owes
nttee nave benefited her public schools for widely
known are the advantages conferred upon her
school system through the wise generosity brought
r. hear I7u0u il 3y Two who yet never held
ar- eseia relation TO it To Initiative Of Mrs.
CrfrCv A Shaw due the Introduction OF the
kindergarten aad much of manual raining To
Ms Narv a Hemenway was due the esta Dllst-
rneut Of sewing. cooking and STedlsn gymnastics
as branches Of school woTk-
Never before" declares Mrs Nells was there
a dine when so many live questions OF intense n
women rising In connection with the
schools C7Ir schools are undergoing great cdange5
for TIE old values Of the church and home when
suppIe-1ented limited school forces are Tar less
existent to-day than they We're thirty years ago
schools now forming the chief means OF aSslnlat-
Ing t interests of boys and girls with the best IS
sues Of national life.
For many decades there has not been tine
when Increased legislation behalf OF schooIs IS
more sure to come than Not alone are means
for Increasing expenditures, II only on accouht o.
numbers 10 be considered. but the very extent O.
free public education Is being tTeshlE GeIe IlLeu
Is IL in the East 70 include, as in the West sLa5e
universities? Is il furnish technicaI, traae
EchooIs2 Is II 10 assure the health and pleasure
Of each pupil by parks and spray BATHS Is * ~ 70
open school yards as Fairgrounds an tlrousn elts
year n The answers 70 such questions "oi JIM
have Sstal interests and school BOARD "olH7N NU--
resp0l IN -lity.'