[To THE EDITOR OP THE "SPECTATOR.1
note with satisfaction that in the Spectator of October 18th you express sympathy with the view that
women should be given an important voice in educational matters. You go on to state, however, that the Bill does not " in any sense exclude women from direction and control in public elementary education." May I venture to point out that in the opinion of an eminent legal authority the Bill was so worded originally that women could not legally sit upon any Education Committees formed under the Bill ? We have Mr. Balfour's assurance that he will facilitate the passing of an amendment to correct the wording so as to include women, but I should like to point out that even when this is carried it will not take away what women regard as their grievance. The Committee which I represent are heartily in accord with the principles of the Bill in other respects, and desire so much to see it become
law that they are willing to waive the question of direct election, and to accept for women the position of nominated members on the new bodies. They are, however, extremely
desirous that some security should be provided for a due proportion of women being placed upon the Education Com- mittees. A very large majority of County Councils have hitherto failed to co-opt women on to their Technical Educa tion Committees, and my Committee has reason to know that a great number of County Councillors dislike the idea of placing women upon their Educational Committees in the future. They trust, therefore, that one of the following courses may be adopted :—(1) That an amendment to the Bill
may be accepted making it compulsory upon the local education authorities to co-opt women on to their Education Committees ; or (2) that definite instruction be given to the Board of Education to pass no scheme sent up by a local authority that does not provide for the representation of women on all Committees. We feel that only in some such way can justice be done to women, who by this Bill have been deprived of their equality with men in regard to ele- mentary education, as they may no longer put themselves forward for election. It would be absurd, after the immense service rendered by women to the cause of education in the past, and the generally recognised value of that service, as evidenced by their presence on the Royal Commission for Secondary Education, on the Senate of the University of London, and on the Consultative Committee of the Board of Education, that their right to continue such service in the future should be at the option of the local education anthori-
Hon. Sec., Kensington Women's Liberal Unionist Association.
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