New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-06-06
WOMEN IN COLLEGES.


copprspoNpENCE BETWEEN THE PRESIDENTS or
swARTHMoRE AND opERLINssPREsIDENT ELIoT's
RECRNT STATEMENTS DENIED-C0-EDUCATIoN OF
THE SEXES GAINING IN POPULARITY.
TO the Bdffor OF The Tribune.
SIR Upon reading, in recent number of
THE TRIBUNE the report OF the proceedings Of the 30
cal Science Associaoniu Boston, surprised to find
the following statements in the remarks OF President
Eliot upon the subject Of the coeducatOn Of the
"Ihe tide Is ebbing not rising. This system Of edu
eating boys with girls Is the wane in the West
"They began NJ Obern by admitting girls to the Col
lege course. They admit them STILL But II has re-
girls" president Eliot referred 10 the personal tes
Jmony Of teachers, citing the maron Of 0berlin Col
her daughters any girls in whom she was inter
ested, to so through tho College course"
These statements entirely at variance with
what had supposed to be the facts with reference to
oberln and the schools of the West that at once adj
dressed letter inquiry to President FaIchild felt
that must pursue this course, was preparing a
pamphlet upon the subject OF coeducaton, in which
had quoted largely from the President OF Obern The
following is the Presidents reply which have just re-
ceved and which give verbatim without further COM
ment May not reasonably ask that tho public. who
have seen President Eots statements reported in
HE TRIBUNE have also opportunity TO see this let
ter Very truly yours, EDWARD Ii. MAGILL.
Sp0rthmOre college, SparthmOre Pennp Fifth No.
goth, 1873.
PRESIDENT PAmcHILD's REPLY.
OBERLN COLLEGE, Ohio. May &c, 1873.
MY DEAR SIR: The only report which have seen OF
President EOts recent remarks the subject OF the
education of women is that of THE YORK TRIBUNE.
II this report be correct President Eliot must labor
under some misapprehensOn. 1t Is true that have
special Ladies' Course" and far the larger portion OF
our young ladies pursue this But this Ladies'
Course" adopted at the founding OF the school, and
the admission Of young ladies 10 the full College lcas
scaD course was subsequent matter. No such thing
was thought OF in the beginning. 1t was granted at
length to few young ladies who desired the fuller
course or the four who first entered upon this course
in 1881 three completed It, aud from that time there
have been more less pursuing this course The num-
bers have varied from 10 to &c. but by what law have
not been able to discover. There have been seVera
fluctuations from a maximum TO o minimum, ana the
reverse within the last 80 years. We have recently
reached the lowest number and are apparently again
on the increase.
No special influence is used with the young ladies.
They select their own course with such advice as they
choose TO seek.
know of no foundation for the idea that the college
course for ladies is looked upon with disfavOr mere
Several of the professors have given their daughters
this course and others arranging TO do the same II
is regarded question Of health and taste Tor study
and there seems to DO no more apprehension among u.s.
in regard to the OF woman In this course than
of young man. A young woman Is just as hkely 70
lead the classes as otherwise President Eliot speaks OF
conversation with the MatrOn," whose opinion was
decided against the college for ladies. Mrs.
Dascomb was Principal OF the Ladies' Department when
President Eliot was with u.s. aud for many years before
She tells me that she never held such opinion and has
always regretted that she did not advise her own
daughter take the college course instead OF the other
Our present Principal. Mrs. Johnston, pursued the
ladies' course and she told to-day that 1t was the
regret OF her life that she did not take the college course
Since her graduation she has endeayored to make up the
lack Probably none among us think that the full college
course Is as often desirable for young women as for
Young men, But 1t should be understood that the
ladies' course involves about five years OF
study after a common-school education, I. C., four
years after. one year Of preparation In Latin and
mathematics. Our college requires three years
of preparation Our ladies' course Is the equivalent OF
the "scentiho" IN this college, In Michigan UNI
yersty and in other Western schools Tine young ladies'
after the first two years their recte with the
college classes when their studies the same without
any special difficulty, that our entire arrangement
involves the fact OF cO-education.
There has been but opinion among us In regard to
the success OF the "experiment" and there not to-
day. the first symptom Of reactionary feeling among
either teachers or pupils Nor have the slightest evi-
depce OF any such reaction in the schools OF the West
that have adopted the SYSTEM aud am somewhat lnt-
mately acquainted with most OF them few days since
was at the University of Michigan, where ladies have
been in attendance for three years. One Of the
Professors told me that almost all the professors were
opposed 10 the arrangement the ousenOw not one.
These are the facts with they stand to-day. You
can use them as you think best. Truly your friend,
JAMES H. FAIRCHILD.
President Magill.