LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
WOMEN INSPECTORS OF SCHOOLS.
ITO THE EDITOR. OF THE "SPECTATOR."]
SIR,—I have been much interested and somewhat surprised at the letter signed "S. L.," in your impression of July 20th. I have had several years' experience as mistress in London and country Board schools, and may say, for myself and many others, that we cannot look forward with pleasure to a day when women shall take their place on our staff of Inspectors.
"S. L." seems to think that women prefer being judged by women,—an idea which tempts me to imagine that your corre- spondent is not a woman, as I feel sure that most of my sex will agree with me, that if we would have true and impartial justice, we must seek it,—not among ourselves. The woman's nature is too small for the work of judging, it is too exacting towards its own sex, it is too much turned on details, to the exclusion of generalities, and it is too concentrated on parts, to be able to grasp a clear view of a whole.
The arguments of your correspondent do not seem sufficiently powerful to justify the conclusions drawn from them. "The timidity of the children" would be in no way lessened by the substitution of a woman to examine them, in place of a man. The failures arise more often from excitement than fear, and the strangeness of the examiner would prove an equal hindrance. As for the infant school, nursery language, no doubt, may be very useful to the teacher ; but the work of the inspector is not teach- ing; and what conversation he holds with the little ones is always very limited,—sometimes, indeed, he does not personally address 'them at all.
With regard to the special subjects—needlework and domestic .economy—the Code regulates the style and gradations of the former, and there are many inspectors fully as good judges of its execution as any woman could be. Domestic economy, in most of its branches, would perhaps be better understood by a woman, but by no one would the efficiency or value of practical cookery be so well appreciated as by a man.
Now as to the second province of the inspector,—viz., counsel and advice. The Inspectors we have at present, with rare excep- tions, are always ready with all the advice and assistance in their power, without the persistent interfering and overbearing manner generally assumed by women in power over their less elevated sisters. And another point in favour of the stronger sex for our judges,—the varied experience of the world (seldom falling to the lot of women), which prompts them to look on every subject with more clearness, generosity, and impartiality.—I am, Sir, Ste., A ScllooL-Boaim MisTnEss.
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