Newark post., 1912-09-04
EDUCATIONAL DISCUSSION
WHY ARE WOMEN DEBARRED FROM SCHOOL MANAGEMENT
PERTINENT QUESTION FROM THE FARM

press any views OF mlne III repl!
to the query Of "a Parent in
YOUR issue of July oath. The Ian
guage and ideas OF those who en-
tered into the discussion seemed
to range so far above my homely
phrases. yet | now feel impelled to
express some Of the sentiments OF
the average farm-wife. Most wo-
men of the class for which | am
writing appreciate well the bless
ines that go hand i'll hand with
their work and know that by per
forming philosophically their
tasks, they will. in all probability,
give as much to the world and re-
ceive as much in return as their
activities would bring them else
where.
While the woman thus living
may feel at times the need of
stimulus. she usually views the
matter sanely and realizes that
her work may be more varied and
sufticing than it would be were
she a homekeeper in town or city.
Is there a lack of social life? :?
That is matter Of individual
opinion dependent upon the quail
ity Of ones desires and how much
one may rely upon oneself, the
latter condition largely a matter
of proper education.
Parents on the farm today are
alert to the call of the young, and
there is, in the average rural dis
trict. wholesome social life, with
restrictions that may be termed
blessings.
Is there poverty? Assuredly,-
as elsewhere. but those who are so
very poor on farms might dwell in
city slums. Which is preferable ?
AS | think Of my farm neighbors
| know that, if physically adapted
to the work, they are, individual
ly and collectively, living as we'll
ordered and contented lives as
they would be living in other
walks Of life. When the day s
work is done we are not more
weary than millions Of other
working women, and though we
may not have much time for cul-
ture, it is probable that it would
not be otherwise with us else
where and onr bit Of leisure time
is very apt to be quiet When we
review our day. ha it not same y
vondarful ono ,s WITH ~been
nnita f.,- p Is not the life
r-,--.-rraenl OF those things for
ufcr we would yearn, if we did
not have them?
We have had the JOY of animal
affection. the lessons Of seed time
and harvest. Of self-discipline
strengthened by the vagaries OF
the seasons. and all the world OF
nature. At last, when the shad-
ows fall. we may feel, in common
with all the world, the charm OF
the evening lamp and it is no
where such a factor, an almost
animate thing. as it is in the coun-
try home.
We have been obliged to follow
quite closely natures laws. ano
they have led us, unconsciously
along the line of dietetics and by
uiene, and we have builded bette
than we knew
More readily than any woman
in the world can the farm woman
absorb knowledge, for she is dali.
in an open school, just asher chile
has unconsciously imbibed kin
dergarten lore.
Granting all these statements
have made, why is it that there /
so much spoken and written now
adays Of the condition of wome
on farms. pity for her lonelines
and sadness for the absence @
color in her life and well inter
toned suggestions for the in
provement Of her surrounding
and condition.
We hear that there is a ''grea-
er percentage Of insanity anon
farm women" Of the unwilling
ness of farm mothers for the
daughters to marry farmers, an
rebellion of farmers wivt
against the demands of farm |;
borers. "
On the other hand, we lear
that "the farmer is yearly MOI
prosperous, So that his is the mo-
Independent life a man can lead,
and that "the farmer has bright'
prospects and more respect tina
in the history Of agriculture. .
The question comes quickly
our minds: IT the farmer IS
fortunately laced, why is b