On Monday a meeting largely composed of ladies was held
in St. James's Hall to protest against the Education Bill as it affects women. The Bill if it passed in its present form would, it was urged, establish education authorities on which women were not qualified to sit. With the main intention of the meeting—i.e., that women should be given a voice, and an important voice, in educational matters—we are in agreement. Considering that half the children educated free by the State are girls, and that women are the best teachers of very young children, it would be absurd to deny the essential interest of women in education. It must not be supposed, however, that the Bill in any sense excludes women from direction and control in public elementary education. Women may not only be managers under the Bill, but may sit on the Committees appointed by Town Councils and County Councils to carry out the Bill. All they lose is the right to be elected on School Boards, since School Boards will be abolished. But it is by no means certain that the Councils will not be willing to nominate quite as many women as the ratepayers elected. If they, do, the position will be improved, not injured. A great many women well fitted to deal with educational matters, who would not face contested elections owing to the expense, hard work, and publicity, would be quite willing to sit as nominated members. This should be remembered when we are told that the Bill drives women out of our educational system.
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