The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-07-04 00:00:00

EXECUTION IN LONDON.

EDUCATION OF WOMEN.

In London, on Tuesday evening, a meeting was lucid
at the " Eyre Arius," St. John'swissl, in aid of the
objects sought to be promoted by the National Union
for Improving the Education of Women of all Classes,
an association which is under the presidency id her
Royal Highness Princess Louise. In the absence Of
Lord Aberdare, who was to have presided, Professor
Huxley took the chair, and apologized for Lord
Aberdare's absence, and excused it on the ground id
his Lordship's enforced attendance at the House of
Lords.

lhe objects of the Union were thus set forth. To
bring into communication and co-operation all in-
dividuals and associations engaged in promoting the
education of women, and to collect and register, for
the use of members, all information bearing on that
education. To promote the eitablishment of good
schools, at a moderatecost, for girls of all classes above
those provided for by the Elementary Education Act.
To aid all measures for extending to women the means
of higher education after the school period, such as
colleges and lectures for women above 18, and evening
classes for women already earning their own main-
tenance. To provide means for training female
teachers, and for testing their efficiency by examina-
tions oof recognized authority, followed by registration
according to lived standard. To improve the tone
of public opinion on the subject of education itself
and on the national importance of the education of
IV , omen. . .

The Chairman of the evening, who had been set
down to propose the first resolution, combined the two
offices of chairman and mover, and spoke at great
length upon the questions which arose in the motion
before the meeting.
."I'hat this meeting considers the provisions for the
higher educat. of girls is inadequate and unsatisfactory,
anti that measures should be taken for effecting an im-
provement."

He said that persons who were blessed with girls and
who Icol to consider the question of their education
would be quite prepared to assent to this resolution.
A parent who had to educate girls found three courses
open--to send them to boarding schools, have
governesses or masters at home, or send them to day
schools. With regard to the first, he dwelt upon the
many onjectionable characteristics of boarding schools,
in that they caused girls to lose the influences of home,
taught them in is faulty manner, and were exceedingly
expensive, The second course he looked upon as also
having its disadvantages; not that it (lid not give the
doubtful advantages of competitive examinations, but
that it pre vomited young minds from mixing with
young minds. As to the third, he pointed out
how scarce good day schools were in London and
the necessity for increasing them. He pronounced
himself as not one of the converts to the "new.
tangled doctrine" of the equality of women with men
or of the superiority of women over men, and he said
that people who talked about the "intellectual
qualities" or the "moral qualities" as if they were so
many peas in a box made a great mistake, and he
dwelt npon the necessity of the qualities of patience
and endurance to attain any great end, and any in-
tellectual man who had made a mark in lifc would say
that it was to his patience and endurance that he
owed his principal triumphs. But if women slid not
have all these qualittos, it was no reason why they
should not be educated to the height of their powers,
and it was with this view that he heartily supported
the purpose of this Union—the est sblishment of girls'
public Jay schools. Mrs. W, Grey seconded the motion,
which was carried nein. con.