, 1874-08-02
An.cricnu yv0l11cn.s EdIacutt0ns

Thou haat enough to answer for /!
Anscrican VF0nlcn,s Education
| From tAs Sete Iorl 1lmes.
| It cannot hare escaped the attention Of tat
thoughtful reader that them is . wide difference
between English and American discussion O
Sex in Education. In England, as in America
/ womeu'a dissatisfaction with their position il
the social economy undoubtedly lies at the bot
tom OF tho whole disturbance. But the En-
glish Conservatives do not go much dread neu
and more trying curriculum for women as the!
do tho introduction OF ''the American system.
DR.. Ma,dsloy. in his debate provoking paper il
tho FurtAiyhHy, does not level his argument al
any theory OF education for women put forward
by English Refor1ners. It il tho essay Of al
American pessimist-Dr. Edward II. CIarke
OF Doaton that furnishes the text
for Dr., Mauasloy' = gloomy SERMON,
a1ther than [a any Eng1n scheme
q calmer discussion than either Dr. Mauds!ey OF
Mrs. Elizabeth Garnotr Anderson, II. D., up
pears capable OF. printed in tho june number ot
Black,oood's -Ea3azae. In thus paper it urged
that English glrls are not allowed to begin their
higher education until t1.e age at which Ameri-
can girls AGvo completed it. Nobody proposes 70
effect any change i'll this particular. Again, no
body proposes 10 introduce into England any
sucA identical co-educatlou OF the so1es as that
now under consideration In America. In other
words, tho discussion is all III the air, and what
is to DO done in England is merely to set up the
ssme goal, and Al1ow Young Men aud young
woman to reach it, each in their own way, anl
without the stimulus Of daily rivalry. We may
add TINT sonle Of the American advocates Of 3
higher education of Women dlsrEovea OF strict
~ eo-educatlonai rivalry of the Sexes
What, then, il the vital Iiltereuco between the
English aud American .bysienls," as upheld by
the respective expcruders! Ia Amer1ez it is
insisted that Young H5:lcn shall have the samn
chances iu tho collegiate race that young men
have that yonns, women WHO pass tile requisite
examinations shall have tho Faluo rights in the
colleges that are now afforded 70 ;oung men.
Generally, il ls proposed that tile education OF
tho sexes s1nll DO identical. THIS theory il not
advanced III England. Next, it ID admitted that
American girls outstrip their brothers i'll the
earlier part Of the educational race. Therefore,
they would earlier entor college; they would be
wrestling with some of the hardest rEobIems OF
scieuce and philosophy while Jet at IN immature
plicitly condemn. While tho whole question, as
debated by Or. Mau1siey aud AIRS. Elizabeth
Garnet Anderson, Il. D., seems prematurely
raised III England, it il vital question III our
own country.
1t ought to be noticed that Dr.. Clarke's objec-
tiona to higher forms OF education for women
do not, Iiku DR.. Naulsley's. lie altogether in the
domain OF physiological differences Of the sexes.
The English opponents of system that shall
involve any approach to q co-education Of the
sexes argue that physiological differences for
bid any such community OF interests. But the
American authority to nhich We have referred
brings i'll objections based upon purely national
habits and characteristics. Diet, tor example.
is cited US considerable drawback. DR.. Clarke
complains that the American girl lives in - q
zone of perpetual pie aud dougluut." She
takes little exercise; aud, where she is absorbed
III ambitious pursuits, She violates the laws OF
health; debaTed from the rough, opon-air
sports Of her brothcrs, she eeokn relaxation, il
at oil, i'll pursuits which are not restorative of
bodily or mental power, and, in short. she
wastes and wastes by innumerablo channels un-
known to American young mon. Obviously,
these errors, il they do exist, may be corrected.
Characteristics chargeablo to Z certain mods OF
life must be gotten nd OK by rndlcal changes III
that mode Of life.
1t ID not necessary here to discuss the abstract
question Of higher education for women. Ad-
hitting for tho arguments sake that the alleged
physical disabilities the product of centuries
these impediments should ba removed. Prof.
Huxley in his extlnguislor OF Miss Jex-DlaRe
seems to have touched the root OF the whole
matter. He says that "a fair elaro OF healthy
work. directed toward definite object, combined
with M equally fa1r share OF healthy play, during
The yeals of Adolescence is the rurest cure fur
that oyerstimulation of the emotions which just
now constitutes the chief element of womat's
II this be true in England, how much
more must it be in America but this cure can
scarcely bo secured III d training-schoo where
young men md women meet on common |
ground and under common discipline, Fur
he present, at least, young women must work !
,nt their plans for higher education through |
institutions expressly designed for them. In |
America. there is thus much OF EEK in education.
And In tho light Of such state of facts we can |
zee how absurd would DO tho application Of q |
'oung man to bo admitted into an institution !
Ike Vassa- College, for example. When women |
not fow wonen--aro ready to enter college |
It the. age Of 18 or 20. after undergoing tram
ng that has given them sound mind in sound |
'ody, it Ui1l bo timo to discuss the next ques- |
ion-f they ask it.