The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1858-12-30
I~.ssrs..i.s Ds.c...son .. Ea.oa, -.

Mr.. EiorIdge Smith, Principal Of the Norwich Free
Academy, had been designated to make the opening
remarks, and he proceeded to speak as follows =
The education of the sexes is a subject on which,
doubtless, there is a diversity of opinion, as there GER
tainly is of practice, throughout the country. We
may examine the subject from two points of view, theo-
retically or practically. We may look at the nature
or mankind, and inquire what are the capacities,
lsympathies, and mutual adaptations Of the sexes to
eacn other, and from this u priori point of view deter
mine whether this is the best method Of education; or
We may take the more practical, experimental view of
the subject, and inquire what have been the results
OF observation and experience in regard to the opera-
ton o. both systems.-the separate and the mixed.
In order to form a just idea. l suppose the subject
should be examined from both points of view. We
need not, however, bestow much time on the FIRST,
for 1 presume there is little need of argument here or
elsewhere respecting the adaptation Of the sexes to
each other in all the departments OF life. Certainly,
the appearance of this audience is an argument in
hvor oft In our churches, steamboats,, cars, and
wherever we go, we find the sexes mingled We also
know that there is no high degree Of civilization
where they have not thus freely mingled. The gene
raj question, 1 think, may be regarded as settled; on
this. | presume, there is no difference of opinion.
1 suppose the question to be narrowed down TO the
period Of ~pupilage, the earlier period of life, and so
may be put thus: "Is it desirable that the sexes
should be educated together during that period q"
But even now the question is not reduced to its
strictest analysis; for during this period the sexes
mingle at various times in other places, if they do not
in the school-room. The question then NAV be mar
TObcl uO8n 10 TINS . =" Il 3 II best. that. IN the ScbOol-
room. the sexes should be mingled during the period
of their education,' Being narrowed down to this
point, we might almost consider the question settled;
for the burden Of proof certainly lies entirely upon
those who would disapproye of the education Of the
sexes together. Ii in general intercourse. ut the fire
side. around the family altar, in the social meeting,
IN the house OF Gud, if everywhere else the sexes are
brought together, not only without harm but with
great advantage, If this mutual intercourse is not
only not harmful, but absolutely essential to a high
civilization, certainly the question comes home with
very great force to my own nind.-I confess, with
res s;iess force,-why should thy he separated in the
-cIOOlroOm? | think, therefore, we may dismiss
'hIs view OF the subject with a very few remirks; we
nay regard as settled, a proved, rs a fur and just
inference from the general proposition, that IN the
schOui-rUom us well as elsewhere the same benefits
all + suit from the mingling of the sexes.
The only point, l suppose, respecting which solicit
tude l. ielt, - that the moral purity OF the sexes is in
hanger. There may be various starting points scarce
iy worthy Of notice; but | suppose the great point is
that the moral purity OF the sexes is more endangered
uy the mixed system than by The separate system.
Now | nIaiIta II, on this subject. that il is a very
gre II mistake To suppose that the Creator himself did
uot make the best possible arrangement. Weare as
sured Oh the highest authority that lit il not good
Tor man 10 te alOne,' nor woman alone, in any high
state of civilization. Why, then, should they be
found alone in the school room: When we say ). it
Is not good for man to be alUnc,'' We use the term in
= generic sense, and we do not mean men If thirty,
forty, or seventy years OF age. suppose he idea TO
be that it : not good for mau at any age to be alone.
In all the stages of human existence, from the cradle
TO the grave, the law OF God is that they should miu-
gle virtuously together.
But we may inquire what a g the testimonies Of
experiences; what are the practical results of the
course: \ very wide field opens before us here. |
might occupy much time in giving the results OF nv
own ob>er, alton. l believe, Mr.. President, that the
only virtuous method of education is by means of
having the sexes brought together in the school-rooIn.
| do not say that virtuous young ladies' and virtuous
young gentlemen are not found in other schools, but
| L do mean TO saw that lust so Ear as we legart from n
mixed system we depart from the order of nature,
and that il viii be found by the results OF all expert
ence that this is the case. Tie very evils which are
thought to result from the union are in fact most eff
fectually prevented thereby. Ii is IN idea prevailing
very commonly among the higher classes Of society,
that female purity IL in danger when brought in
contact with the opposite sex in the school-room. So
far is this from being true, that you ito in fact erect
barriers around that purity by bringing them together
under proper circumstances; you establish safeguards
in comparison with which bolts and bars and tower
ing battlements and moated walls are as the SPIDERS
web. You know, Mr.. President, how slight is the
security in all the appliances To which L have alluded,
how small obstacles they offer TO unbridled passion.
But there is a security in that sentiment of HONOR
it deserves a higher name, unless you call it Christian
hvnor,-thats sentiment which arises unbldden in the
breast of every honorable youth, as he associates free
ly with the opposite sex, and TO think of them not
merely in the opposite relations in which they present
themselves 10 the imagination, but to think of them
as Intellectual beings. The circumstances most IA
yorable for the Development Of this sentiment are TO
be found in the scliool-room,-a sentiment that rises
in the mind of every honest-mInded boy and every
honest minded girl.
| will mention one instance. Some years ago, in
my own school, at a distance from the school-house,
a boy used an unguarded expression in the presence
of some Young laiies. His associates took him asi e,
and said to him, (. III you do that again You shall be
hozred If the matter does not come TO Mr. Smith,
we will do il ourselves" In that school, during my
connection with it, that sentiment was maintained.
Never, during my connection with the school, was Its
moral purity disturbed, except when scholars were
introduced from schools where the sexes were not
brought together. [ DO not mean 10 say that they all
came in impure, but | do mean to say that l felt
solic;tOus whenever a boy or girl came from a school
conducted on the separate system.
After relating AN incident connected witha visit TO
his school by az English lady. TO show with what
surprise she regarded the practice OF allowing large
BOYS 10 20 oil into recitailon-rocIns TO recite IN their
classes 10 the female assistants, he said those females
would have protectors in those bays equal to brothers
OF fathers.
To tortify his own positions, MIR. Smith read some
extracts rrom DIR. Quincy and Mrs. Janeson, and
concluded by saying, IF you will go through the
country, and compare the separate with the mixed
schools, you will bud that the buys in the mixed
schools are more manly. more polite, and the girls
arp ,u,re hdyike and more arnlable. IA we'll rs more
intellectual. Ia Is - mutual and c0n'inon bene0t ana
IL il 1 liuct Ou both sexes, a htel OF human nature
i repei il with ~cVrn as a libel on our own SEX
that We do not give ~ wen ~ receives oenen' io"
the arrangement
Benz .n.n Greenleslf, Esq, Of Bradfor1, said II was
not true that practice always makes perfect; but he
xouri me, ertne;ess give the results II his experience,
ubi.l, e,nmmenced in 10 -, since which time he had
taupht in every description OF school, ana ma
schoIars of botiIA sexes. from five TO about nity years
81 roe He hid never known but one case of an ACCT
J.uI resulting from having boys and girls recite To-
retner in the Sane class. There was Que " sad cat
Istrophe.' The young ladies and a young gentle
nan we're reading Cicero together, the young ladies'
re,d 80 much better than he that he left the school
in disgust. He was an excellent young man, became
a mechanic, aud died worth SlOO,OOO. In conciu-
sion, Mr.. Greenleaf said Put them together' un,
!. mo ,s,eher. in one room, have good rules and
m, theIn in execution, and there will be no difficulty
- ednc,rine the sexes together, and both will behave
better in all respects
Mr., Richard EIwnrds, Superintendent of Schools