The New York herald., 1874-08-10
Sex In Educatioas

Sex In Educstioa.
One Of the most important questions arising
out Of the struggle after progress which dis
tnguishes the present age has been how to
obtain equality OF education for both sexes.
Many Of the most distinguished minds have
dealt with the subject from opposite points OF
view and reached conclusions widely differ
ent The cause was not far to seek. The
supporters of the existing state of society and
those who proposed to discover something bet
ter entered the discussion, not so much as phi
losophers seeking the solution of difficult
problem as advocates and partisans. Each side
pleaded its case under the influence of passion
or prejudice, and the result was an ever
widening breach between the disputants,
while little real light was thrown on the
question at issue. On the one hand
It is argued that there exist certain
well defined differences of organization
between the male and female which render it
impossible for the woman ever to perform
efficiently mans work. On the other, the
manifest superiority of many women to the
mass of men in special fields of intellectual
labor is adduced as proof of what all women
may achieve when they obtain facilities of
education similar to those enjoyed by men.
Each of these views deserves attention, but
neither deals with the whole truth upon which
the value of o decision must rest. DR.. Ed
ward h. Clarke, in his speech at Detroit at
the Educational Convention, took this con-
troversy out Of the field Of vague speculation.
He dealt with it ably and dispassionately as
purely scientific question capable of solution
by laws whose workings are subject to OBJ
servation and direct examination. This mode
of treatment sweeps away effectively the
theories Of those who teach that woman
has q higher mission than that given
her by nature. Few men Of intelligence
will deny that it is desirable to cul-
tivate as fully as possible the intellectual
power Of women as well as Of men. But when
this admission has been made the question
still remains-How must woman be educated
SO as best to fulfil her destiny in the
social economy Her first and noblest duty
is to the race, and any scheme of intellectual
culture which fails to recognize this fact can
not be accepted as tending to the benefit or
elevation of mankind. First we must pre-
serve the race afterwards we can elevate it.
The weakness of what we may call the woman's
emancipation movement has been due to the
ignoring Of this fundamental law, upon which
the very existence of the human race depends.
We want cultured womanhood, but with the
womanhood not weakened or eliminated by
the culture. In both sexes the brain is evolved
from the organization and is favorably or un-
favorably affected by the normal or abnormal
performance Of the functions So much
science teaches us, and its lessons cannot be
safely ignored It is quite possible
to obtain q high development Of a
part or parts Of the human system at the
expense of the remaining parts, but the
result is a marked deterioration in the organi-
zation. The best results are given when all
the faculties are developed in due proportion,
and this can only be done by following the
laws Of our physical conformation. It is evil
dent that for both sexes the same mode Of
training will not give equally good results.
The differences of organization are funda-
mental and radical They cannot be disre-
garded without serious injury to those who
refuse to submit to the laws imposed by ma
ture They necessitate difference in educa-
ton between the sexes, but do not necessarily
prevent women aspiring to the highest cui-
ture. But she must do so in accordance with
the higher law Of being to which every
good for woman as for man--it not only de-
velops the brain but exerts healthful and
conservative influence on the inferior organs.
But in order that it may exert this
healthful influence cerebral architecture re-
quires that every function and organ of
the system shall have appropriate develop
ment Nature has placed an insurmountable
barrier between the sexes, and those Jewellers
who would undo natures work by turning
women into Indifferent men are enemies Of
the human race Men and women differ most
widely in their highest types. The qualities
which excite the highest admiration are those
which are most distinct, and which could
never become common to the sexes under any
possible state of society. In view Of these
facts it might be well for those who seek to
give woman more importance in the world to
recognize that her highest intellectual and
moral development must take place in the
sphere in which nature placed her. Once she
passes beyond the limits laid down in the
eternal laws, her usefulness comes to On end.
She vacates the honorable position assigned to
her in the scheme of humanity.
King Caucus.
King Caucus is very powerful potentate,