The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-04-10
Harvard Examinations for women.


women, which the authorities Of Harvard
University propose 70 hold during the com
ing summer IN some of our principal cities,
deserves careful attention from the friends
Of female education. II the somewhat sharp
discussion between Prof DUNBAR OF Cam
bridge Gal Prove; SriLL. II Philadelphia
in the pages ui tic P,m MDnihiy should
have no other effect, it would at least he
likely to arouse public interest in the sub
jcet, and To make the aims and methods of
the new system widely known.
Lot us first sec what ii is proposed TO do,
and we may then glance at the further qucs-
tion whether the Harvard authorities are
the proper persons to do IL. As compared
with institutions open to the other sex, all
schools and colleges for women have hith-
crto lacked two things first, stimulus; and
secondly, certificate of proficiency which
should command universal recognition. II
Is these wants which the local examinations
instituted by Oxford and Cambridge were
intended to supply and the notable
success Of the English experiment has now
encouraged the oldest of American universe
ties to enter the same field. Nonew tutional
facilities are extended; no interference Is con-
templatcd with the existing appliances and
currcula of our innumerable female seminal
ries and normal schools the gauge is applied
to results, not means; and it matters not a
whit whether the requirements tested and
approved were gained from academic in
struction, private tuition, or individual UNI
aided study. But under whatever crcum-
stances the work Is performed, the con-
sciousncss that IL is To he weighed aud
measured by high standard, submitted,
indeed. to exactly the same scrutiny and
proof which are undergone by competitors
for a coveted university degree, must act as
n constant and potent incentive to exerton,
and invest thOroughness and accuracy with
new significance. Such a result is not only
natural and reasonable in theory; the prac-
teal workings of the scheme In England
have shown IL TO be II fact. IL is not hoped
or conjccturcd, but demonstrated. that FEM
ininc attachments cease to lie under the re-
preach Of shallowncss the moment stu
dent has in view n high and sharp criterion
to be applied without any of those offensive
allowances on the score Of sex, which tacitly
postulate the mental inforiority Of woman.
Since English girls have known that their
acquisitions would receive the Identical
gauge and stamp which qualify a graduate
of Cambridge, not a lew have been prompted
to approve themselves the intellectual
equals OF their brothers.
There II reason to believe that certificate
conferred by n Harvard examiner would
operate to guide and encourage class of
female students not reached by any OF the
existing appliances. The fact cannot be ig
nor" | that many wcll-tu-do parents are UNI
willing To send their daughters to large
schools AMI prefer To incur a much heavier
outlay for education at home. But besides
the want OF stimulus, a fatal defect uf phi
waite tuition in the case of young women,
has been the uncertainty Of MIN. which
varies according to the Judgment or caprice
of instructors. who may be changed from
year to year. Now, those local cxamina-
tions supply definite object, in view OF
which girls studies may be- planned and
correlated and intclligently prosecuted
from early youth. The service To bc cx-
pectcd FROM the system, regarded merely -
a guido TO private study. was undoubtedly
one Of its main recommendations in Eng
land, and it seems to have had considerable
WEIGHT with those American ladies who
have urged the Harvard faculty TO under
take a similar function We may add that
an those persons who jet to female semi
narios, no matter how confidently they look
forward to insurinS their children against
the necessity If seli-7upport. would doubt
less bee glad 10 gain, as the crown AMI seal
of home education. certificate which, in
ease OF need. would 20 far 10 attest qualiii-
cation, for teachers profession.
Ii Is clear enough That one objection put
furwardby Provost STiLLE OF tine University
Of Pennsylvania, namely, that the Harvard
examinations are intcALei 10 disulac" the
regular training given 10y academies and
teachers, Is not we'll founded. They simply
propose, IL we have seen, - supplement cX-
isting agencies by furnishing guide and
spur 60 private schools and household
tuition aud pcrhal- % augment the uee!ul-
moss ~ public scminarie- themselves by set
ting before them cciuson STANDARD of
work. A, lor DR.. SriLLE', statement that
nothing Of the Kind, at all events. Is nccGvd
in Phi ladoi lhia, this docs not seem 60 hn the
! opinion Of tA" lu.tic- Interested, namely,
/ the mutrOus a iAtt ciiy. IL Was not until
/ tscir apphoutiou tptlc University # prlu-
! -rlNanla Lad locn refused that the ladies
VITA whom the movement originated Lad
recourse % the Harvard faculty.
OF course the value ot the voucher in
question must dcpcud on the authority OF
III, university comforting it, and on ,hi-
head some difference uf opinion may hc
! lp.k,d f1r Dr. SrlLLu thinks There is
! nothing IN the age on reputation of Harvard
which gives weight 10 what it has seen III
- ito In regard 10 tine education Of women
To th- 90 assertion Ptol. DuNBAL contents