New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1911-04-08
WOMEN ON THE SCHOOL
BOARDS.

| That the people OF this State
have a decided antipathy for such
| restrictive and prohibltory pro
visions of the State Constitution
as tend to limit the freedom of the
people in heir choice OF those
who are to serve them in an of
fetal capacity, is evidenced by
the strong movement now on loot
to effect an amendment to Artl-
| Gle 30.
This article provides that only
duly qualified elector can hold
any office under the State ,Ju-
dicial district, parish or municl-
pality, and, as women are not yet
electors in Louisiana and no eX-
ception is made in their favor, the
people are necessarily restricted
in their choice of those who are
to serve them to members OF the
steiner sex.
As in a majority of the States
of the Union, wonten are eligible
to serve on public boards, such as
school boards, asylum boards, lib
rary boards, etc, and IN many
States are also eligible to appoint
ment as Notaries, public senti-
ment is beginning to regard this
provision as absolute.
The strong editorials that have
appeared recently in some of the
leading papers of the State show
that the sentiment of the commun-
ity is demanding an amendment
of this law. The Daily States. in
its issue of November 23d, 1910,
under an editorial entitled, "Wo-
men as Members of School
Boards says:
"To the proposed amendment.
therefore, We see no tangible o5-
lection, but, on the contrary, a
potent and convincing argument
for its submission and ratifica
ton by the people; and we trust
the women may be successful in
crystalizing public thought in its
behalf And further in the
same editorial, referring to wo-
men:
"They manifest deeper inter
est in the administration of the
schools. both in the City and in
the country. than the opposite
sex, and not only would their
service on school boards be valu-
able from the Nactical expert
ence and knowledge they would
bring to their duties, but they
would exert an uplifting inf.u-
ence over the system. 1t fol-
lows, as a matter of course. that
there is a function they could also
serviceably perform on certain
charitable and correctional boards
and the State at large and their
own local communities could not
fail to be benefited if they were
drafted into these public sta
TONS
elm the Times Democrat of
February ath, 1911, under an ed
torial entitled "Women on State
Boards we find the following +!
"Article 210 is an anachronism
wholly out Of date in this coun-
try. We recognize today, as we
nave never recognized before. that
.he women, especially the moth
rs to whom the work of prepar-
ng their children for school. hear
rg their lessons. seeing that they
;trdy, should have some part, if |
lot the leading part in the con-
rol and management of the
This is now universally |
and in nearly all the |
'ther cities States and countries,
are not only eligible to
he school boards, but enjoy the
light to vote for the election of
chool members and on all mat
rs affecting public school"
In his same editorial we are re-
minded that:
"To make women eligible to the
then boards does not mean to
lace them on such boards. unless
he voters, who are all males. SO
eclare; and they are not likely
0 elect or appoint women unless
, is to the public interest. AS
he law now stands, no woman
an hold any position, serve on
ny board, or do any service for
ne State or city. no matter how
unanimous the public sentiment.
lay be in her favor"
In other words the contemplat-
4 amendment to Article 21O is
erely in the nature Of an en-
bling act. 1t will permit men to
0 that which they may find it
ivisable for the public good to
, and which they cannot now
} legally under the existing law.
To such an amendment, merely
wing TO the people greater free
I'm OF choice, there can be no
IL