The Detroit times., 1912-08-22
OH, FOR AUSTRALIAN
SCHOOL SYSTEM HERE!
Entirely Divorced From Politics,
Says Retiring Principal of
Sydney College

For the first time since It's found
ing, IL years ago. the directors OF
the Kindergarten Training college In
iar-off sydney, Australia, feel that the
school can do without an American
teacher at its head, so Miss Eliza
beth Jenkins. who has been connect
ed With the school for nine years has
lreturned 10 her native country, and
Is at present the guest OF her sister,
Mrs James Schermerhorn. No. POSI-
Woodward-aye. Miss Jenkins gradu-
ated from the Chicago Kindergarten
ms itute. before she went TO Sydney
| 10 become vice-principal OF the
Kindergarten college there, place
she occupied three years before be
coming principal, and In September
she returns 10 her alma mater In Chi
cago, 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 IL has had all
American for principal. The work
has been placed on such a sound
footing that 1t is thought now 1t can
be safely left in the hands of Aus
tralian teachers. During my stay
there, we had between so and 80
pupils in training all the time. The
| kindergarten system from this col
lege has spread all over Australia.
! II the nine years 81 her residence
! in Australia Miss Jenkins returned
to America only once, three years
ago, when she made a trip around the
world. combining pleasure with
school work and research
II left sydney about the middle of
March and came home through
! Europe. as | wished 10 study school
systems there she said. II 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-
| tation in Australia she said. 'un-
| less II 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 a life office and In no wise
connected with politics.
'Tn 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. OF 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. | al
tended two suffragette public meet
| ings and must say that the women
speakers talked without restraint In
| all my experience in public places, !
never was so rudely and roughly
treated The woman movement as II
lis called, has had a tremendous I'M
petus since was in England. three
wears ago. when the suffragettes
we're just beginning to be heard.
Miss Jenkins said she knew very
! little about the woman movement in
America, but hoped II was not so
violent as in England.
II admire the women of the Anti
podes very much" said Miss jenkins.
'"They are a sturdy, splendid lot. The
Australians are pleasure loving peo-
pie and the women are fond OF good
| dressing and amusement