Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 127, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 December 1909 — LADIES’ LITERARY WANTS WOMAN ON SCHOOL BOARD. [ARTICLE]

LADIES’ LITERARY WANTS WOMAN ON SCHOOL BOARD.

Believe Lady Would Prove More Satis, factory Than Man and Will Petition CouiteH to Appoint. The Ladies’ Literary Club of Rensselaer held their regular monthly meeting Friday afternoon at the home of Mrs. E. C. English. One very important matter was taken up and given the unanimous endorsement of tbei members,present. It was the need of a feminine member of the city school board. The present board is composed of Dr. E. C. English, C. W. Coen and R. A. Parkison. Mr. Coen has removed and his resignation will be filed to take effect on Jan. Ist, the postponement of his severance with the loard being made in order that the new council, which will be seated off Jan. Ist, will elect his successor. It is at that time that the Ladies’ Literary Club-hope to secure a feminine member of the board. In discussing the matter with one of the members of the club this morning 'she said to the Republican reptKler: “There is no intention on the part of the club to enter politics nor to advocate women’s suffrage, but this recommendation is made solely with the belief that it will be greatly for the benefit of the schools. White the club is not prepared at this time to give its endorsement to any particular candidate, it may be said, that there are several women who would make valuable members of the board. Several who were former school teachers are now presiding over homes and contributing to the good of society by raising and helping to educate children of their own. We believe that the advice of a mother would prove of inestimable value in the management of the city schools. We believe that a woman would visit the school buildings much oftener than the male members do and give more minute attention to the duties that a member of the school board should perform. We are not going into this matter as an independent movement, but we have discussed the project with several of the men of the city and believe it will have the endorsement of the men as well as the women of the city.” The woman who thus expressed herself named several cities where school boards have at least one female member and said that the experiment was resulting entirely satisfactory. It is the intention of the club to prepare a petition asking the appointment of a woman and this will be presented to the new board of councilmen at their first meeting in January.