Evening capital and Maryland gazette., 1915-05-10
MOTHERS AND FATHERS
VISIT THE SCHOOLS.
Present Petition for One Session But
Verdict Against Them.
Communicated.

On Tuesday. May f. a number of the
women of Annapolis. all Of them moth
ers Of children who were pupils of the
public schools. accompanied by two
men who were also patrons Of said
schools, apeared before the School
Comissioners of Anne Arundel county
and made what seemed to the peti-
toners a very reasonable request, viz:
that from May II to the end of the
school year tJune Isl the schools
should hold but one session. from
a. m. 10 p. m
This request was based upon the
conviction on the part of the patrons
that their children would accomplish
more and get better results in four
hours OF continuous work. than in
three hours of the same work. with
one hour recess, during which long
walk in the hot sun TO their midday
meal. is necessary. and after which
two more hours must be spent in
warm and crowded classroom.
Before presenting their petition,
these women took all possible care
that no one would lose by this one
session. and that there was a desire
for it on the part of the patrons, go-
ing first to the teachers to find out
if, in their judgment there would be
loss TO the student body to any degree,
and if they would be able to accom-
plish the quantity and quality of
work laid down for them in the cur
.riculum by the end of the school year
with one hour taken from each day
The opinion was that nothing would
be lost An effort was then made 10
ascertain the wishes of the patrons
in the matter. To this end quest
ion blank was prepared. which read
ITO the Parents-Do you favor one
session of school (from 9 a. m. TO l p.
m. } from May II to June IS? An
swer YES or NO.
NAME. .....la.... .........
Permission was obtained to give
one of these blanks to each child to
take home. have signed and bring
back to school the following day,
There were total of $50 replies, Of
which % were NO.
The women took this sheaf of let
ters TO the School Commissioners,
and made their plea for one session
They were strongly supported by the
two men who went with them.
The eveident desire for one ses-
sion was presented with an explana-
tion of how it was obtained. Then
the mother Of four children who at
tend the schools in their different
departments. explained why she
thought it was necessary. Next came
a former teacher OF the school whose
work has always been considered of
the highest order, who spoke on the
advisability of one session from
teachers point of view Finally. one
of the women trustees of the school
who is also a patron. spoke of her
belief in the one session idea during
the last month of school, from the
point of view of a trustee.
We felt we had made out strong
case, we could think of nothing we
had left undone, and we believed the
Commissioners would surely grant
the request
So far as ] have been able to learn
there has been no official reply to
any member of the, delegation. but in
reporting the proceedings of Tues
days meeting, The Capital spoke of
the visit of the women delegates to
the Commissioners, and of the action
the latter in denying the request. To
at least one of the women present the
ned of the participation of her sex
in governmental matters was more
strongly felt than ever.
Certainly if there had been wo-
man on the Board of School Com
misioners, as there undoubtedly
should be. or even if women's votes
had helped elect those who name the
School Commissioners, their verdict
might-indeed believe it surely
would have-been different. There
is great need of woman's point of
view in politics, if politics must enter
into so important an institution as our
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
PRESIDENT OF THE JUST GOV
ERNMENT TEACIrE