The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1877-10-27
6I3 n CAIRO ILLINOIS, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 81 1877
Tke51558alletin.
SEX IN EDUCATION.



~ g1p New. York World, ser d ID
{ Some time ago. DR.. Clark, Of l'ostoD,
created u ensation by publishing a book
maintalng the theory that the c o-education
OF the sexes was not desirable because the
phy 81 cal nature OF women reudar her I'M
Gt Tier maturity for the continuous a2pll'
cation In study or labor which Il man
could undergo without inIur5 to his CON
stltution. He boldly declared tina. n young
woman was not able to take her Place be
sidesa yOug man aud do a young mans
work, and he prOyedit 10 the satisfaction
o! every body but that class OF feiormers
who holds that the dignity and value Of
depend upon the cl0seness
with which the sexes Resemble each olier'
The medical basis on which DR.. Clarke
Or oceeded made the discu. sion OF the
question delicate business, hut tie re-
port inst published by the trustees OF the
university OF Wisconsin cannot fail to reViy
the subject. This institution, like many
of the colleges Of the west, provides for the
co-education OF the sexes, and III come
respects its history goes TO justify such
system. According 10 the report Of the
trustees the young women at the university
of Wisconsin show no mental inleriorlty 10
the young men. They exhibit the same
proficiency 10 their classes, and, II any
thing, e. eel in the pfecriOn uhd piOhIlu-
tude Of their answers at recitation; but
the gallant OIL Gals DO not hesitate Ia say;
awe were, however. deeply Impressed
with the appearance OF lil-heallh winch
most OF them presented" An investigation
into the cause OF this i'll health was made
at once. he ventilation vi The cOiltSa
buildings, the sanitary character ol thelf
site, the quality of The food furnished TO
the students, the condition OF the appara,-
US for lighting and heating-sll things az
iectlng the ply steal well'being of thote
attending the institution we've carefully
examined The result Was that the II dstees
came to the conclusion that the only reason
for the III health Of the girls lay In the
simple fact that they we're girls, and there
fore unit for the steady and wearing study
of course intended for men, especially in
competition with men. They put DR..
Clarke's theory clearly in explaining this
unftHe..
Every Psychologist Is well aware that at
stated times nature makes graft demand
upon the energle, OF early womanhOod,
and at these times great caution must be
exercised lest injury be dOne--an injury
which It IL well known, may prove perna-
nent. Ia order to keep place in the UNI
yersity classes, where the sexes are educat-
ed together, 10 account Is taken Of the iSct
that the woman isbors under double
disadvantage as compared With the man:
| First, In the circumstance that nature
cOmDells compliance with its Nell-eStabilsh-
| cd laws, and ~ above stated ,makes de-
mands upon her energies; and, second, that
| TO keep her class.standlng the gil must
devote more energy and consequently
work harder TO accomplish her task,
making drafts upon her ~ stem, which, by
| The very nature VI the case, IL already
taxed to meet the physiological demand
| made upon It. It Is also well known that
| oyel work, ia whatever way Induced, at
| the times indicated. will produce deterior-
alton OF the system, which generally mani
| fests itself by biooilessness, followed by 4
| train OF evils which 1t is not neCe Ssary here
| to enumerate 1t is this very condition Of
| blo0diessness which is so noticeable IN the
women of the university at this time; the
saow features, the pearly rwhiteness oil
the eye, the lack OF color, the want Of
physical development in the malo.. ty and
an absolute expression OF anu Liza in very
many of the women stu ients, all indicate
that demands are made upon them which
they cannot meet
The trustees are not opponents oil any
womun's rights movements, but simply
officials who have tc ted the King o
one of the educational movements o
modern life and fnd grave reasons fo
doubling It's wisdom. Their observation
should lead ustO consider whether, ate
all. the generations which preceded us ma.
not have reached some sound conclusion
in regard TO the great problems that per
plex humaL ity, and whether the separst
education Of the sexes be not such wis
soncu.ion. Is not identity of sexrs ii
labors, in garments and in mental charsc'
eristics the outgroweth or savage life, an
the differentiation OF the sexes in dress, ed
ucation, work and habits of the mind
mark Of civilization Are not the so-cale
reformers who seek to make woman
merley "the lesser man going backwar
y instead OF forward