The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-03-08
the WoM4N QUESTION.
a Vigorous Protest AsHi-si Appointing
women 10 The Board OF Education.


To THE EDITOR OF THE SuE-Sr. The
statement IL publicly made that q city fedora
! tion or wonleu's clubs win urge Mayor Nc
! Clellan TO appoint women 10 the Board 81
Education. All persons having a knowledge
/ OF our complex school system would regret
such backward step
To be plain and TO be brief woman is by
sex and consequent temperament untitled
/ TO be a member OF the governing body OF the
] public schools How do | know? Well |
nave had twenty-five years experience Of the
New York schools. Teaching In our schools
and "bosslng' the teachers are by no means
one and the same thing. as teaching and gov
errlng require different powers and capa-
bil,tes.
Women are out OF place in public life The
only place for womans activities Ia the
home or the school. and in the latter case
especially is II necessary that she be super
yised by man
As legal proposition. woman is not en-
titled to sit in the Board OF Education or in
tho local school boards. any more than she
If entitled 70 the exercise OF the political
members Of the Board OF Education and the
members of the local school boards. uses the
masculine pronoun only,
express the sentiment OF the thousands OF
female teachers in Greater New York In stat
ing that they do not want women on the
Board OF Education or on the local school
boards because they have found them TO
be narrow minded and "nagging We have
also thousands OF male teachers. and what
man anywhere wants 10 be dragooned by a
woman who naturally IL Inferior 20 him IN
illustrative and executive ahllityY
We have had some sad experiences with
women. Many years ago school trustee
las the inspectors were then called de-
tected in the commission OF Infamous crimes.
] had something to do with gathering the
evidence and with subsequent prosecution.
The man had a fair and legal trial and was
expelled on the evidence, yet the women
commissioners stood by the guilty man be-
cause he brought Church influence TO bear on
their sentimental side.
The late William r. Grace was the first to
put women on the school board At the
close Of his term as Mayor he told me he re:
GREETED nothing 80 much as this act. asked
with the appointment Of the women lie
said no. and frankly admitted that the APP
pointment Of the women was due TO social
influence" The one good thing in tho late
Mayor strong's administration was that he
t t,GH ne advice Of some prominent mon
skilled N school matters and refused TO re-
Mayor Mcclellan Gays there is one depart
Ib shi ~ b mcbR nj E not have R9S Sbd
an exception should be made there. is past
s sGapFH, h ai,nn II Il to be hoPfd that
OF the movement TO get women on the Board
or Education-will have as little effect as
political influence
On the local school boards the presence
or women Is hiudrapce TO business The
women have accomplished nothing for the
sCIOols. pne OF lnt cnlel OBJECTIONS 10 women ]
IN such places Is that they are governed by
their eligious preiudces and their political
predictions, and the modern woman has a !
great deal Of the latter. A man is open TO
conviction by Arguments woman IL not. !
Among cases ! have in mind is one Of three |
women school inspectorsi who brought un-
founded charges against n principal land !
used social influence on the members Of the |
board TO try and got the verdict they wantedl n
st cost 10 the city OF more than $500 In ste |
nographer's fees alone, and the charges came |
70 naught.
Borough President Aheara is familiar with |
the trouble which female inspectors cause In |
the schools. About twelve months 90 ne told |
is compelled 70 yield 10 vhis subtle social /
influence and Is doing what his Judgment |
and experience tell him is nadvisabe
me best work or the best woman is in
fertor 70 the work OF the best man That Ia a
historical fact Woman necessarily is mans
inferior in everything, Moreover a woman
naturally hates one OF her own sex Hence
as school inspectors or members OF the Board |
OF Education they are out Of place. As rule
the female school inspectors enter the schools
like Oriental ssrvants orgettins that teach
ing 10 an honorable profession and that all
the teachers come Of good families" At
any rate. so far as education goes they are
spectors. I have known many bitter tears
20 have been shed because OF the dofnineerinR
conduct OF the women inspectors. on a
trial gave an instance Of this.
proper outlet for gossip. and do very little
hahn But let women keep their dainty
hands OF the public schools II the women's
clubs want TO do something for tho good OF
complish through their social influence In
Is there any use In my stating n?
NEW York. March T. JAMES CLANCY.