The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-01-23

me to affirm or deny that we would not have very superior board of its complexion were changed by substi- tuting before the name of each of you in place of MT the title Mrs.
 Tt is worthy of serious considera- ton in this connection that we pro pose no innovation, no doubtful ex pertinent. The legislature of this state, by statute whose wisdom has never been questioned, has decreed the legal qualifications of women for mem mbership upon boards of educa- tion- It seems hardly necessary to rehearSe the arguments which prompted the legislature to that en- actment; suffice it to say in passing pressure of public clamor, nor to make political capital out of the favor of women; for woman suffrage as a political question had, hardly gained a foothold in this state. Rather it was the mature. and sober judgment of men noted for their conservatism that the. cause of education needed the abilities and virtues especially ex- hibited by women in that branch of the public service. Nor need we go far abroad for a practical demonstra- ton of the wisdom of that law. The city of Meriden will ever hold in grateful remembrance the services rendered by Mrs. Rogers as mem Der of tits board of education. And among the many instances in this and neighboring states where the services of women have been thus availed of I have yet to hear of a single instance where the step has been regretted
 In Big Cities.
 t'Who that is truly interested in this contained in the experience Of Chi cago, Cleveland, Boston and New York city, where some of the most notable advances in the cause of pub lie education have been inspired and accomplished by such women as Mrs. Young, Miss Keeler and Mrs Fitz- gerald? While in Connecticut be- sides Mrs. Rogers, whom have men tol; Mrs. Cummings, of Southington, and many others whose services are not measured in terms of cheap mo- toriety- Wherever this subject has been given serious consideration and trial, there it has been demonstrated, not that women are superior to men as administrators. but that from the cooperative services of men and women the best possible results may be obtained.
 Consider the needs of our own city. We have some 300 women school teachers, whose responsibility to the children in their charge, to the parents of the children and to the community, is of overwhelming gray Ity You, gentlemen, know better than we outsiders what problems those young ladies have to solve; what delicate questions involving the moral and physical welfare of some 14,000
  bated and determined. You are the tribunal of last resort for all of these difficulties. If he prayer of our peti- ton were to be granted or denied upon the answer to this question, whether each of you has not met in your experience with a woman whose Judgment upon many of these ques- tions would be more valuable than any you or any other man could ex- ercise, I would have little doubt as to the issue. And what better test would you have? At intervals this community has been shocked with vague disquieting rumors of immor- alities breaking out like some dread disorder among the crowded ranks of our army of school children. For such grave and dangerous perplexi- ties is there to be found any better counsel than from the pure, true, feel ing heart of a good woman?
 Baffiing Questions.
 Your board disburses large pro- portion of the total revenues of the city. l venture the suggestion that the peculiar faculty of women for the patient study of small details which lies at the root of all true economy would be of great assistance.
 Your board has in the matter of buildings to wrest1e with that dis tracting problem of reconciling the artistic with the utilitarian. This also would be within the peculiar sphere of feminine experience.
 And finally in that field of supreme importance, where crowd together in bafhing perp1exity the questions of educational policy; of the science of education; of the scope and function of public education; of the relative importance of topics for study, and | methods and system, there is need of the very best of the trained and cul- tured minds of the community. Does it not seem unscientific, wastefuI and narrow minded to ignore the patent | fact that there are women in this l val Ia la ID would bring to this cause qualities of mind and heart pre-eminently fitted 1 to meet the demands of that service?
 Ut has been objected that the presence of women would interfere l with the informality which has char ] acterized the meetings of the board