Evening star., 1927-04-27
EXPLAINS METHODS
| TO WOMEN vUlERS
Miss SherWin Tells League
How Members Can Get Po-
IitiCaI Education.

Describing the National League of
Women Voters as the vehicle of a
new educational movement" Miss
Belle Sherwin, it's president, declared
today the one paramount mission of
the organization is to increase the
personal stake of women in govern
ment"
This sums up best the aims Of ap
organization devoted principally TO
the political education of women, Miss
Sherwin said in a speech to the gem
eral council of the league, which
opened it's fourday sessions behind
closed doors in the Mayf1ower Hotel.
The leagues first national meeting in
Washington brought to it's seventh
annual gathering 125 delegates of va
rious political creeds from AS States.
"As an educational enterprise said
Miss Sherwin, "the league is in the
van of the new movement Of adult
education. Political education in the
league begins with situations, not sub
jects."
Calls Opportunity Unlimited.
Miss Sherwin asserted there is no
limit TO the opportunity the league
has TO serve women and the country.
Characterizing the organiza ton as IAN
experiment in political education to
promote the participation of women in
government" Miss Sherwin declared
the leagues purpose makes it
dogged adventure in patriotism"
1--WE are in the hope of establish
ing methods which, if not new, have
never been so specifically applied or
so widely used" she said. Work
IN the league therefore calls for de-
votion and patience, the faith and the
critical attitude of the scientist. The
experiment must be tried out under
many conditions in all sections of the
country among women of different oc-
cupations and habits of life. 1t must
be carried on long enough for us to
be able to see whether, and how, it
affects the citizenship of women, and
the worth of the part they take in
Government"
She explained that political educa-
Zion in the league begins with per-
sonal necessities such as having to
vote or answering pertinent public
questions.
"It insists upon the responsible ex-.
perience Of the learner. upon work
related to situations" she continued
"such as voting or acting as an cleo
ton official or getting a precinct out
TO register. Such work may be go
Ing TO court to observe, or to sit on
3 jury. 1t may be ary of several
forms Of work in support of legisla-
ton in order to begin to understand
how laws are made, as well as to get
a particular law enacted. The labora.
tory for political education is limit
less and the league uses it almost
unconsciously.
Suggests Exchange of Ideas.
FINALLY, political education in the
league depends upon discussions. the
exchange of ideas and experience be-
tween the teachers and learners, who
are searching for political wisdom,
Tor what fits the facts of situations.
SO wider and deeper understanding of
situations is gradually gained, which
helps to account for them, making
clearer what government cen do.
what citizens may rightly expect of
N and what direction helpful work of
foyal citizens must take.
Most Of US have experienced in
some part this really remarkable edu-
cational process which the league has
set going. / do not know that we
realize fully its significance and /
think we must see it large If we are
TO give it the place and support it de.
serves. The league is the vehicle of
2 new educational movement, the
medium of new political develop
ment. To that responsibility political
education to promote the participa.
tion of women in government has
brought us in seven years. These
phrases sound extravagant, but /
think they are essentially true.
There are those who think we ire
Pc the birth of a new system of public
education. additional and supple
mentary to that we have. If ever so
modestly, the league is responsible for
the experimental stages of a new edu.
cauonaI institution. We must get a.
glimpse Of what the establishment of
political education for all the people
would raean in the evolution of demo
eratic life and government.
Recommends Surer Ways.
''It is our first business then to see
flearly just what we are about and
hext to find better, surer ways of go
ng about it. That IS the purpose of
this council We ara hare ~ a,a1xv,,r