Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1912-11-24
women WOULD
Lend AID To
PUBLIC SCHOOLS
so SAYS SUPT. ]. Z. MATHIS
Many Ways in Which They
Could Be Of Service

Based on my experience of many
wears as teacher and as superin-
tendent of public schools, it is my
candid opinion that the interests OF
the public school system anywhere
would be promoted by admitting Wo-
men to some degree of supervision
over it"
This was the statement made by
Superintendent of Schools Mathis
when spoken to about the agitation
now on in Savannah, as well as in
other cities, for the admission of wo-
men to the Board of Education, and
otherwise giving them direct voice in
the management of educational mat
ters
81 can see no harm that can result
from the participation of women in the
conduct of the public schools, and l
believe there are advantages that
would flow from it," continued Supt.
Mathis. "All over the country the ac-
tivities of men in business life absorb
their time and their energies to such
an extent that they are not able to
give to educational, or school matters,
the serious attention that they should
receive. AS members of the Board of
Education, it is the rule everywhere
that their services are largely per-
functory, their principal work being
the making of the budget and the
checking of accounts and passing OF
bills, or, otherwise, the supervision OF
the finances. When it comes to actual
contact with the school system as a
force in the rearing of the rising gem
Grafton school directors can hardly be
said to be really awake to their actual
responsibilities or opportunities. They
are generally men of affairs and their
time is otherwise too much absorbed
Il remember State Superintendent
of Schools Glenn stating one time that
the trouble with this country is that
we are turning the churches and the
children over to the women while the
men are going to hell chasing the dol
lar If We are going to turn the edu-
cation of the children over to the wo-
men then we ought to go far enough
in that direction and give them a SUI
perVising authority commensurate with
the Importance of their position as the
mothers of the children and as the
and trend of life in the early years.
would have no objection to women be-
G1g appointed as an adjunct to the
Board of Education, visiting the
schools, keeping general supervision
over their sanitary arrangements, seek
ing to beautify their surroundings, en-
deayoring to maintain a high moral
atmosphere, analyzing the methods
that are used and making suggestions
as to improvements in them, cooper
aung with the superintendent and the
teachers in making the schools what
We would all like them to be, institu-
uohs not only for mental training, but
Tor the development of character in
'ne children and for the cultivation OF
that sense of the beautiful which, re-
Sfet to say, is too much missing in our
southland Education ought to take
OF broader character, not broader in
IAe sense of multiplying the branches
ana the text books, but broader in the
sense OF including the cultivation, from
lAiahcy on, of the aesthetic instincts
the laying of the foundations of thai
appreciation of the vast opportunities
'or Seif-development and happiness
"Hlch Will go SO far toward making
0Seioi and highly satisfactory lives.
know there are many who seen
" pe aYerse to women participating
IN lhe direction of school affairs, but
i oeheye there are avenues in which
''eIF participation would be useful tc
o'le schools 1t would be a direct ben.
n' 10 give the public schools of an,
I''s Ihe services of a number of cul
leu women, whose whole souls will
We N The work entrusted to them. who
wa not be governed in the slightes
~ poLiJlcal or other extraneous con
9!'eiauons, but who will have on,
t"sie thought to animate and govern
'"ein' the Improvement of the scboo
''enI SO that it will more fully NEE
Ie needs Of the country. There is
80 we all know, tremendous amour
,,,. criticism now. being aimed at tn,
neJ.'' t; school system generally. Som
oa, - - BASED on antagonism to publi
1oaN 'oiS' lear, but much of it is doubt
rons.,,, 9o 5us'inable and helpful Is it no
99'Oie ia;91 mat the grounds for such crit
onIia. ,' would be removed if the school
corns -. .ae "a efforts of a sympatheti
rs nY,ps Of the best women of each com
W. IN some official capacity
tbst - possess an intuitive sens
anga.n U,''n permits them to put thei