Crawford Avalanche

During the special session of the Michigan legislature in the winter of 1880-81, the committee on education and public schools—Messrs. Patterson, Kilpatrick and Morrison—after consultation with Mr. Gower, the superintendent of public instruction, presented a bill which, being adopted without any opposition, gives us section 17 of act No. 164, found on page 168, session laws of 1881.

This gives to every woman who is 21 years of age, and also parent or legal guardian of any child included in the school census of the district, the privilege of expressing by vote her choice concerning the management of the school, provided she has been a resident of the school district for three months or upon any territory belonging thereto. This law also continues to every woman who pays tax upon property the privilege, already granted, of voting upon the raising and the expenditure of school moneys as well as other questions, provided she has been a resident for three months.

This opens the way for every such woman (mother or tax-payer) to bear upon the school the influence of her own convictions, and makes her as much as any other resident of the district responsible for the choice of school officers, and through that election for the selection of proper teachers, the intellectual and moral training of the children and everything pertaining to school management.

The law also says: "That any female persons of or above 21 years, who has resided in this state three months and in the township 10 days next preceding any election shall be eligible to the office of school inspector." Any qualified voter in a school district who has property liable to assessments for school taxes shall be eligible to election or appointment to office in such school district unless such person be an alien."

Republic. Do results show them to be all they should be as conservatories of the highest interest of our children?

We desire to call attention to the number of youths of 17 years and under who are confirmed in the use of bad language, tobacco and intoxicating liquors. We need to make our schools a more direct and certain instrumentality for the prevention of these debasing habits. Schools should be not only gardens of intellectual culture, but should second the physical and moral training of the best homes.

Physical and moral training, though an accepted feature of our schools, is not, of course, the prominent part of our curriculum, and the school receiving representatives from all classes of homes, if not aided by the best moral elements of society, fails to sufficiently instruct and restrain the vicious and untaught. Our free school system makes it the birthright of every child to receive instruction in the rudiments of sciences. Do not the signs of the times indicate that it is equally important to instruct every child concerning the baneful effects of alcohol and tobacco?

There are many school districts where it is desirable that more time and attention be given to school matters by the proper officers. In some of these districts it is possible to place in office a woman eminent for sound judgment, experience and moral sense. She would give such attention to the appointments of the school room, as to promote the comfort and welfare of the pupils. Her efforts would aid the teachers in such educational and reformatory works as would counteract evil influences.

The state having recognized you as responsible guardians for the children whom God has given you, and your participation in the management of school affairs being absolutely necessary for the greatest good of all, we earnestly appeal to every mother, every female guardian or taxpayer, to awaken to the importance of these privileges and powers.

Remember that neglect of these duties will make you personally accountable for any loss, physical or moral, resulting thereby to your own or other children.

We urge all W.C.T.U. unions to make plans for utilizing the educational ballot and to arouse the women in their several communities to make this a part of their regular work.

W.C.T.U. Com. on Franchise.