Evening journal., 1905-01-20
OPPOSED WOMEN
ION SCHOOL BOARD
Mr.. Nields in Urging Cen
tury Club Charter Made
This Statement
SEVEN is THE IDEAL NUMBER
speeIai b rhe EvenIng sournal.

OLILN 10 lnL lUlhl NVWDln
Special to The Evening Journal.
Dover, Jan. 2o.-The meeting OF the
state Federation OF Women's Clubs at
the Dover Century Club yesterday af-
ternoon dn the interest of education,
and OF which mention was made In
The Evening journal yesterday, was
well ATTENDED. 1t was arranged at the
request OF committee on education OF
the Newt Century Club OF Wilmington,
OF which Mrs. Alfred ID. Warner Is
chairman.
Several members Of the Wilmington
club were present among them being:
Mrs. Herbert II. Ward Mrs. Charles l.
Kent, Mrs Benjamin Nields, Mrs. i.
M. Jones, Mrs. E. @. Robinson, Mrs.
C. S. Hammltt and others. The princi-
pal speaker was United States District
Attorney John =. Nields, OF Whining
ton, who advocated the proposed char
ter Cor the Bound OF Education Of that
oity providing for seven members 20 be
elected at large.
Mr.. Nields startled the women when
he declared that they were unfit to be-
come members Of tho Wilmington
board. He said; thousands OF dollars
have been lost in purchasing text
books, curtains, etc"
Legislators Repaid With Stamps.
Each member OF the Legislature re-
colved a letter from Mrs A. ID. War
nor yesterday containing a two-cent
stamp. and a note reading: Permit
me 70 cancel my Indebtedness, and 10
apologize for my disOrdered desk
scales" The stamps were sent 10 re-
pay the legislators because they were
Obliged 10 pay two cents postage due
on a letter containing a copy Of the
proposed Board Of Education charter
that was mailed by the New-Century
Club educational committee. Some Of
the Assemblymen who had declined to
pay the postage have now received
their letters.
Mrs. Marshall, president OF the Dover
. club, called the meeting TO order and
, Mrs Warner was introduced as chair
man Of the meeting. Mrs. Kent, pres
ident OF the Wilmington New-centuTy
Club. made brief speech, after which
District Attorney Nields discussed the
chauter for a seven-member board and
b presented arguments why a. should be
!, enacted.
He read a list OF the principal cities
~
e main, boards OF FIVE, seven or nine
Y members are IN control OF the schools.
p He also quoted from an address by
S President Eliot, OF Harvard University,
{ advocating a seven-neunber board as
the most practicable. He contended
s. that the whole function OF 'instruc-
: tion" as applied to the conduct Of the
public schools belongs TO an expert
q the superintendent. The board can
only intervene In a general way.
1. Says Women are Unfit.
who are ht TO compose this small
: concrete body OF business men sitting
about a table and acting upon business
4 propositions senslbly and speedily2'
Y asked Mr., Nields.
who are fitted. ask-manufactur
ors, bankers contractors, builders, ply
sicians and merchants.
"Who are unht?-women, lawyers
superannuated old gentlemen. greer
), college men. inexperienced men of any
= walk Of life."
Mr.. Nields said the choice between q
twenty-four member board as exlstet
, before the charter of the Wilmington
/, board expired and a seven-menbe
;, board as provided for In the new char
ter bill was the same as a choice be
tween debating society of twenty
l. four members and a board Of director
Of n business corporation.
When Mr.. Nields had concluded. Mrs
5, Warner called upon Representative 7
O. Cooper who Is a member Of IN
Wilmington Board OF Education. DIT
Cooper had been mentioned severa
( times by Mr.. Nlelds Jan the course OF hi
speech. 'rhe speaker seems TO deer!
t oratory, and Il doesn't seem WORT
!. while for me 10 say anything" remark
> ed Dr. Cooper. He said he did no
> agree with the speaker and was no
r favorable to the charter advocated b.
the women as II stands. Or. Coope
y said he did not care to discuss the sub
iect at that time.
County Superintendent Talks.
John d. Brooks. superintendent OF tn
Sussex county ptfbiic schools, advocate
the creation OF O. county school boar
and the abolition of school commission
crs through each district. Mrs. ROber
- G. Houston. Of Georgetown, also advo
Gated a reform IN school methods.
superintendent Arthur r. Spaid. O
the New Castle county public schools
NJ said that his report. as printed I'm m
ne Evening journal yesterday, covere
lie what he would car to say.
,el 1T has been intimated to me-" con
me- tinued Mr. Spaid, 'Nhat n I wasn't a re
appointment I must get certain me
20 back me. / desire to say 1 Will no
I viii go to Governor Lea and ask hil
IL: to reappoint me. but as to asking an
of man to advocate my appointment, /
naig never do 1t. II my work does not spea
,ed for itself I viii not seek political back
ing"
IN j. r. Carroll, superintendent of keI
no county schools advocated the consOl
at dation OF sparsely populated school dh
.en tdcts. with graded schools and wago
81. service to convey pupils TO and fro
az az schools.
nd The Joint Committee.
rly The joint committee that arrange
IleI the meeting Is as follows;
in Wilmington-Mrs A. d. Warne
ley chairman: Mrs. Benjamin Nields, Mr.
in- Herbert II. Ward, Mrs. Elizabeth ROl
ris, inson, Mrs. c. S. Hammitt. Mr.
lar Charles Kent, Mrs. f. NJ. Jones.
err IAiiddletown--Mrs Richard Cam.
I'VE Smyrna-Mrs. ]. w. Anthony.
me Dover-Alrs. Ella Marshall. Mrs. Gee
rec Fulton, Mrs. r. L. Holiday, Mr.
llel james Pennewill. Mrs. James II. Tod
lt5 Mrs. John p. Salisbury. and Others.
nee Wyoming-Nrs. Cole. Mrs. G. II. Jon