The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-08-21
OH, FOR AUSTRALIAN
SCHOOL SYSTEM HEREI
Entirely Divorced From Politics,
Says Retiring Principal of
Sydney College

For the first time since its found
ing. 10 years ago, the directors OF
the Kindergarten Training college in
iar-on Sydney, Australia, feel that the
school can do without an American
teacher at It's head, so Miss Eliza
beth jenkins, who has been connect
ed with the school for nine years, has
returned 10 her native country and
is at present the guest OF her sister,
Mrs. James Schermerhorn, No. POSI-
Woodward-ave. Miss Jenkins gradu-
ated from the Chicago Kindergarten
ms itute, before she went TO sydney,
TO become e-principal of the
Kindergarten college there, a place
She occupied three years before be-
coming principal and In September
she returns to her alma mater in Chi
cage. to become member OF the
faculty.
The Sydney school was first start
ed as a philanthropic movement. and
the founders OF II sent to America
for teachers" Miss jenkins told The
Times. Ever since II has had an
American for principal. The work
has been placed on such a sound
footing that IT is thought now II can
be safely left In the hands OF Aus
tralian teachers. During my stay
there, we had between so and so
pupils in training all the time. The
kindergarten system from this col
lege has spread all over Australia
II the nine years ~ her residence
in Australia, Miss Jenkins returned
to- America only once, three years
aso, when she made trip around the
world. combining pleasure with
school work and research.
Il left sydney about the middle OF
March and came home through
Europe, as | wished to study school
systems there" she said. Il spent
some time, in study in Italy, In Berlin
and in London, and did much travel
ing about the continent as Well
Miss Jenkins says that Australian
women have enjoyed full enfranchise-
ment so long that the voting privilege
is taken quite as a matter OF course
"One hears nothing OF suffrage agi-
tatlop in Australia she said, 'un-
less il is that Australian women de-
plore the methods taken by the mill
tant suffragists OF England TO win the
vote. In Australia, women have alb
solutely nothing to say about school
affairs. but for that matter neither
do the male voters. The school sys-
TEN is part of the state government,
and the position OF director OF
schools is life office and in no wise
connected with politics
"In England, one hears about the
suffragette on all sides. II Is gen.
orally expressed, by both men and
women, that the violent acts OF the
militants have hurt the cause OF
votes for women Their 'rowdyism
as Il is called. Is scored severely by
all classes. or course, one must re-
member that women in England chafe
and suffer under very unjust laws,
and 1t is certainly time something
was done to lift this injustice. | at
tended two suffragette public meet
ings and I must say that the women
s speakers talked without restraint. In
all my experience in public places,
never was so rudely and roughly
treated The woman movement as II
Il called, has had a tremendous i'm
petus since | was in England, three
years ago, when the sunraBettes
were just beginning to be heard"
Miss Jenkins said she knew very
little about the woman movement in
America, but hoped 1t was not so
violent as In England.
81 admire the women of the Anti
podes very much" said Miss jenkins.
"rhey are a sturdy, splendid lot. The
are a pleasure loving peo-
pie and the women are fond OF good
dressing and amusement"