Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-08-10
Shall Middlebury college open
its Door for the Education of
Women.

| Women.
A friend sends us the following letter
| addressed TO Rev. DR.. Kitchel, Presiden,
of Middlebury College, saying "that the
subject matter, being of great and in
creasing interest, and DESTROYS that Mid
dlebury College may throw open its doors
for the training of young women 70,
active life, induces me to forward THU
letter for publication" IL. =
Doctor II. D. KITcHEL, =
President Middlebury College.
Dear SIR Il received the annual cir.
euiar announcing the programme for the
coming Commencement exercises, and
my soul yearned to be there, but there
are circumstances which make it impossi
BILE this year. The history of Middlebury
has been creditable one, and her work
| good and useful one. There is no better
place to study, to reflect, and to purpose
life of virtue than just there where onr
mothers house is, midway between the
lake and the mountain. Scattered all
through the land and in other lands are
to be found those live men who are living
illustrations of what Middlebury has done
for the world.
But am sad when I hear that she
does not increase ia students and in infiu-
ence as she grows older. What can she
do to make herself greater power in the
land If l may advise-open her doors
wide enough to allow the young women
rs wsll as the young men to enter her
halls. Vermont has as many daughters
as Sons who should be thoroughly edu.
Gated to make their lives what they may
and ought to be. The first work I did
after leaving Middlebury was to prepare
several young men and some young wo.
men for college; one of the latter, re-
member, reading the whcls quota of
Greek. But no college in New England
would allow women to enter its classes
then. 1t was thought to be unwomanly
for young ladies to aspire to such a
sphere.
Less than twenty years ago there was
a great educational battle fought in the
Michigan Legislature which resulted in a
general college law, allowing the broadcast
liberty to educate, and to confer degrees
on both sexes alike. How fercely that
revolutionary act was contested not only
by the President of the University, but
also by a large number of our solid men
of learning, like DR.. Duffisld of Detroit.
But we had Legislature of liberal
minded men, and they made our educa-
tional laws as broad as the whole people,
and when we confer degrees upon women
who have completed the prescribed eurri-
culum they are women still, Just as their
graduated brothers are only men. And
at last the Regents of our University
have made the fortunate discovery that
there was never any law in that institu-
ton in the State, the Agricultural College
included, which shuts out the women,
except, indeed, the State Reform School.
New Englsnd has system Of collegiate
education almost as old as her colonial
history, but it ignores one.hslf the youth.
To Western educator she seems very
slow in changing a monastic system bor-
rowed from the Catholics Of the Middle |
Ages, for one more in conformity with |
he liberal age in which we live. Surely |
will not be the last to move
Onward and place herself right ON this
great question. There was time, when
you and I and Professor Parker and Rob-
pins were undergraduates, that Vermont
lsd more students in college, according
o Der population, than any other State
n the Union. Ii that is ever true again,
hose students will probably be fully one
lalf young ladies.
If had liberal bequest or donation to
make my alma Mater-I only wish it
we're possible,-I would not think of any
Their designation than to prepare her
Iouse for the young women. If wanted
o do the best thing possible for the wo-
men OF the State, would not found
yassar for their elevation, but only en-
arge the facilities now existing at Mid
lebury 20 as to meet the wants of beth
exes. Then your daughters as well as
our sons would be more likely to remain
t home and not emgrate so generally to (
be West. and would use their talents I
nd their learning in building up model 1
where the whole people
re- educated.
do earnestly desire to see the College
nlArged under the labors of my former |
ompanions in study, yourself and your ,
Allow teachers l have hoped it might t
e during your Administration that the
,ducational Millennium of Vermont would s
G ushered in, but it must be, believe, |
nder dispensation where they know c
either male nor female in the Republic G
{ Letters. I
am yours as ever,
JAMES A. B. STONE. .
K4lam"z, 30, Mich, July 90, 1871. 4
y HNSHt,. l.