Gainesville daily sun. (Gainesville, Fla.) 190?-1938, 1905-02-28
woMEN on scHooL soARDs

In Jacksonville there was recently
inaugurated by The Florida San a cru
SADIE against flthiness in and about
the public schools OF that city. The
Sun awoke such keen interest in this
fight for cleanliness in the public
schools that The Metropolis joined in
the crusade aud The Times. Union gave
columns as a news feature to describe
the interesting developments.
One Of the interesting outcomes Of
the campaign Is the suggestion from
prominent men and women OF that
city that the Constitution Of the State
Of Florida be amended so IS to pro.
vide for representation for women on
the county boards Of public instruc-
tlon. This is the most interesting
question which has arisen in connec.
ton with the matter. There vas some
deep interest, it appears, in Jackson
Vile over the condition Of the River
side school, and, judging from what
was reported OF its sanitary condition,
there ought TO have been, but this
matter OF providing for women on our
school boards is Of vast importance to
the State.
Women are naturally interested in
the public school They are interest
ed to the extent that it is in the public
school that the mother sees her child
for considerable part Of his career
under her guidance. 1t Is therefore
proper that the mother should be
heard in matters OF education and
that her advice and her counsels
should be needed But who will say
that this is not the case under the
present system2 Is IL not fact that
in Florida there are two women toone
man connected with the schools of the
State? The connection these women
have with our schools is direct, while
that OF the school boards are indirect
10 certain extent The school teach
err is on the ground and in charge Of
the children and the school, while the
school board is absent while directing
the general State plan OF the work. II
IL therefore true that the women OF
the State have as much to do with the
schools as the men, and to them is
largely due the credit or discredit for
the results
In tbe South any suggestion looking
toward the entering into politics OF
the women OF our land will be re-
buked. 1t ought TO be. IL is not the
proper sphere for the women to enter.
Her line OF duty Is not in welding,
but more In directing political power
by the offices which she performs in
the home.
There might be something said, too,
against the care and the wisdom which
the women OF Florida or any other
State might exercise in political bodies.
AS a rule, women are impulsive, and
IN great many instances II has been
shown that they lack that executive
and legislative ability which their pro-
tectors have been given by the laws Of
nature which gave 10 man the respon-
sibility OF government.
There ia an illustration Of this In the
ease IN point. The campaign against
the condition OF the Riverside school
in Jacksonville was wagod because Of
the condition OF the water closets
more than any oiherea cause. They we're
unsanitary aud the teachers in charge
had not prevented or attempted 60 pre-
vent the presence Of obscene writings
on the walls. The women Of Riverside
took the case In hand. They met and
decided % take immediate control.
The immediate effects OF their crusade
we're refrcshlug. Under their direc-
ton the jsntor was put to work and
the school premises we're made clean
and presentable, as well as sanitary.
Bus IN theirhaste TO present themselves
at meeting OF the mothers OF the
school Ga the day they were engaged
In this work the committee walked
away from the school grounds with the
keys OF the outbuidinRs An entire day
for three hundred or moro children at