Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1869-11-11
Tho Eaucation OF Women.

Tho Education OF Women.
We make the following extract from the
admirable address of Charles W. Elliott, on
the occasion of his Inauguration as Presi-
dent of Harvard University. While it treats
as ON untried experiment, what at Oberlin
and Antioch long ago passed beyond the
experimental stage, the collegiate education
of the sexes together, it, nevertheless,
evinces liberality of thought and an OPEN
ness to conviction which recommend it to
thoughtful perusal =
The attitude of the University in the pre-
vailng discussions touching the education
and fit employments of women demands
brief explanation. America is the natural
arena for these debates; for here the female
sex has better past and better present
than elsewhere. Americans, as rule, hate
disabilities of all sorts, whether religious,
political, or social. Equality between the
sexes, without privilege or oppression on
either side, is the happy custom Of Arneri-
can homes. While this great discussion is
going on, it is the duty of the University to
maintain e cautious and expectant policy.
The Corporation will not receive women as
students into the College proper, nor into
any school whose discipline requires resi-
dence near the school. The difficulties in
volved in common residence OF hundreds
of young men and women Of immature
character and marriageable age are very
grave. The necessary police regulations
are exceedingly burdensome. The Corpor-
alton are not influenced to this decision by
any crude notions about the innate capaci-
ty of women. The world knows next to
nothing about the natural mental capacities
of the female sex. Only after generations
of civil freedom and social equality will it
be possible to obtain the data necessary for
an adequate discussion of womcn's natural
tendencies, tastes and capabilities. Again,
the Corporation do not find 1t necessary to
entertain a confident opinion upon the fit
ness or unfitness Of women for professional
pursuits. 1t is not .he business Of the Uni
versity to decide this mooted point. In this
country the University does not undertake
to protect the community against incompe
tent lawyers, minister, or doctors. The
community must protect itself by refusing
to employ such. Practical, not theoretical,
considerations determine the policy OF the
University. Upon a matter concerning
which prejudices are deep, and opinion in
flammable, and experience scanty, only one
course is prudent or iustifiabe, when such
and wellconsidered experiment. The prac-
tical problem is to devise safe, promising
| and instructive experiment. Buck an ex-
pertinent the Corporation have meant to try
| in opening the newly established University
Courses Of Instruction to competent women.
In these courses, the University offers to
young women who have been to
| good schools, as many years as they
wish of liberal culture in studies which
have no direct professional value, to be
sure, but which enrich and enlarge both
intellect and character. The University
ho,es thus 10 contribute to the intellectual
emancipation of women. 1t hopes to prepare
some women better than they would otheI'
wise have been prepared for the profession
of teaching, the one learned profession to
which women have already acquired a cleaI
title. 1t hopes that the proier of this higher
instruction will have some reflex influence
upon schools for girls measured by the fire.
qilency or rarity of college punishmcnts
The criteria of success or failure in high
place of learning are not the boyish esca
pades of an Insignificant minority, nor the
exceptional cases of ruinous vice. Eacl
year must be judged by the added opportun
tiles of instruction, by the prevailing enthu
siasm in learning and by the gathered wealtl
of culture and character. The best way Il
put boyishness to shame is to foster scholar
ship and manlness. The manners Of com
munity cannot be improved by main force
any more than its morals. The Statutes o
the University need some amendment an'
reduction in the chapters on crimes and mis-
demeanors. But let us render TO our father
the Justice we shall need from our sons
What is too minute or precise for our us
was doubtless wise and proper in its day. l
was to inculcate a rcverent bearing ant
due consideration for things sacred that tn
regulations prescribed black dress on Sun
day. Black is not the only decorous wei
in these days but we must not seem, i
ceasing from this particular mode of goo
manners, to think less of the gentle breed
ing of which only the outward signs, an
not the substance, have been changed.