The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-09-09
FEMALE EDUCATION.

Eeience-mtSs BydtR Becker on "Ihe
Two sexes of Man''-The Degree of
"Spinster of Arts"
The members Of the British Association we're
entertained on the 25th ult., by paper read by
Miss Lydia Becker, the well-known advocate OF
women's rights, "0n the supposed differences
in the minds of the two sexes OF Man." Miss
Becker, as may be imagined Is of opinion that
there are no such differences, and she COM
planned strongly, though with much good humor,
of the way in which women are treated, owing
to the false vie VS. on the subject which are held
by men. 1t was generally admitted, she said,
that girls as well as boys should be taught to
read aud write, Yet the notion of interiority IN
feminine requirements underlays all educa-
tional legislation. For instance, In the bill to
provide for the education of the poorer classes,
introduced into the House of Commons last ses-
sion by Mr.. Bruce, while infants under six years
OF age were placed on level as regarded the pro.
vision made for their intellectual needs boys
above that age were to receive 3d. worth
of instruction weekly, while 6d. worth was
deemed sufficient for the girls. The existing
arrangements of society we're founded on a
principle at present almost universally accepted
without inquiry or examination, and which was
the basis OF political, social, and educational
legislation. 1hs principle had been recently
defined by writer in the Pau MdLt GdzeHe as
the radical inequality of the sexes, the radical
inferiority, physical, moral, and intellectual, OF
woman. This radical inerlorty Miss Becker
set herself to disprove. The propositions which
she desired TO submit were three in number:-
l. That the attribute of sex did not extend to
mind; that there was no distinction between
the IntelleCts of men and women corresponding
to and dependent on the special organization of
their bodies; 2. That any broad marks of
distinction which may at the present
time be observed to exist between
the minds of men collectively were
fairly traceable to the influences of the different
circumstances under which they passed their
lives, and could not be proved TO inhere in each
class in virtue OF sex; 3, that in spite of the eX-
ternal circumstances which tended to cause
divergence in the tone OF mind, habits OF thought
RI Onir,In nj mo IN md ttar
of fact that these did not differ more amoug
persons OF opposite sexes than they did among
persons OF the same SEX In illustration, she
would observe that among plants there was no
superiority of any kind connected with sex, and
that among animals, whichever sex happened
to be superior in physical strength, dominated
over the other: THIS superiority was not always
on the side OF the male, as IN raptorial birds and
some species OF insects, such as ants ana bees.
Some extracts were burredly read from
paper by Mr.. Joseph Payne on the Relation
between Learning and Teaching" but the inte-
rest excited by Miss Becker's paper was great
that it was found impossible for the author to
secure the attention of the section.
discussion then ensued on the education
question generally, and also ON Miss Beckers
paper in particular. Upon the question of en-
dowments Created OF in Mr.. FItch's paper on
the preceding day. general opinion was eX-
pressed that they must be made more IN &C.
Cordance with the requirements of the times,
the main points urged beng that the endow-
ments produced most inadequate results; at
master received f300 per annum without having
single pupil tor years together, while the
sehoolroom was used by an enterprisng balder
for storing timber. Laughter.) With regard
to Miss Becker's paper:-
Mr.. J. G. Fitch observed that the smaller sum
proposed to be allowed per head for the teach
ing of girls arose simply from the fact that
girls schools could be conducted more cheaply
than boys schools.
The Rev. f. Meyrick, who has had consider
able experience as an inspector of schools, said
h. fhnti ttN,,r
Holy Scripture girls were equal to boys; in the
matter of reading he considered that the girls
excelled the boys; in the matter of writing,
girls and boys were about equal; and in the
matter of arithmetic the boys were superior to
the girls, whose time was good deal occupied
In instruction in sewing. Each sex had its
special excellencies, and education must be
adapted TO its future work in life. (Hear, hear.)
The Rev. A. Jessop did not see the force of
the Illustration drawn from bee land Qaughter);
we were not bees, but men and women (laugh-
ter); and, we could not ignore the actual physi-
cal distinction which existed between the sexes.
uaughter.)
Mr.. Haywood stated that the University of
London proposed next year to confer degrees
upon ladies in the event of their passing o
rather stiff examination. Uaughter) He did
not exactly know yet what they would be
termed-whether "Spinsters of Arts" or what
not. Nauehter.)
Mrs. Fellowes said the whole system of female
education among the upper classes must be en-
tirely remodelled. At present girl who had
finished her education" as 1t wa was termed was
could be found on the face OF the earth.
Uaughterl
Other gentlemen and one lady miss Robinson)
having spoken,
DR.. Farr moved, "That the Council of the
Association be requested to appoint committee
to consider how the scientific education of
women can be promoted"
The President expressed his opinion that up
to a certain age there need be no difference in
the education OF the sexes, but that the mission
of women in life was different to that of men,
the former having reserved Tor them higher
mission, in which the delicacy, refinement and
grace which formed the charm of the female
mind were more important than the pursuits of
science, viZ.:-the training of a family which
was after all, the most nportant education that
could be impaired to mankind, (Applause.)
Miss Becker, in reply, said she could not un-
de1stand why an inferior teacher should be in
trusted with the training of girls; and, in
answer TO remark by one of the audience,
'Not inferior, but cheaper" she observed that
efficiency was generally considered to be mea-
sured by the amount of salary paid. The system
OF having separate teachers for the girls and
boys OF family she condemned as wasteful, and
contended that the same teacher should under
take the education of both, believing it would
be found that they mutually encourage each
other and do each other good. Some gentlemen
had said that he hoped sewing would not be
abandoned as part of female education. Upon
that point she would observe that in former
days spinning was the great employment
OF English women, and at that time the
process was laoorious and not very prof.
table. AS soon as It became profitable, by
1T passed out of the hands of women. She hoped
similar revolution would arise with regard to
sewing, and she looked forward to the time
when needle would be as much stranger in
the hand OF woman as the spinning machine
was IN the present day. She argued that the
isolation of the sexes was Dreiudicial 10 hnth