New-York tribune., 1879-06-06
UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS n

UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS FOR WONEN.
The Harvard local examinations for women, con-
Quoted in this city by Professor Chiids. have JUST
closed Twelve SESSIONS were held during the week oi
work. and nine yonng women presented them'e'Ves
for examination. Two of these applied for the ad-
vanced examinations: three Of the Others dlvded
their work for the preliminary examination be-
tween last year and this year. tins being permitted
when necessary, by the rules. The candidates
were fewer than last year-wben sixteen were ex-
amlned-but they were notable for intelligence
OF one Of thcm indeed, Professor ChIlds is quoted
as saying that her papers alone were worth all the
trouble of the examination they " showed so much
talentr Several of the young women came simply
from love of study aud wish 10 test their acquire
ments while Others took the examination as pre-
paratory step to teaching That the number OF can
ddates was so small is doubt due TO the fact that
the details and purposes of the examinations are
not yet sufficiently well known to the public.
The scheme of university instruction for women
in England-which the Harvard plan resembles
geatly-looks chiefly in the direction of providing
skilled and accomplished teachers. When thorough
and severe examination on the University basis
successfully tests young woman's knowledge her
certificate will mean something's there will be fewer
teachers appointed through political influence, and
there will not be SO much slack, shiftess. and mar
rowless instruction. 1t will be happy day for our
schools when a Harvard certificate comes To be re-
ga ,led rs a necessary recommendation Tor teach
er's position and when the principals or SCHOOLS
systematically prepare pupils for these examIha-
tions As Professor Chds says, there could be no
better test for the comparative value Of the lnstruc
tion given by different schools; and while 1t would
be great help to thorough and practical schools, IL
would sweep away host of superficial, sem-fash-
ionabe establishments that now only cumber the
earth.
II wouId be hard to exaggerate the value of these
examinations and the subsequent Harvard instruc-
ton TO teachers. They have really the power to
create a profession ont of what is only an oc-
cupaton. If it were q matter of course for teach
ers to pass the Harvard test there would be no more
question of useless instruction by halftaught girls,
for the sake simply Of their pockets. Probably this
would at first cause some sutferIng--but what adj
vantage would come to pupils and to the skilled
teachers There would be reason to hope for sali-
ries proportioned to ability; and the profession,
which is almost filled by women, would
take rank as it ought those Of law or medicine
AS unfortunately it does not now. We are even
so sanguine as to look forward to the day when
Harvard may provide for those women intending
to be teachers a course in pedagogy administered
by professors who shall have both learning anu
special genus for such work
but for those clever girls who dread to
drop their studies leaving school,
are these examinations useful. The an
tcpation of them at the end of the school life will
make the whole course of preparation more inter-
esting, animated and valuable; and the fortunate
result Of passing them will DO certain inspiration
for after-cnture. Those to whom the sound OF
Harvard examination" is somewhat appalling,
Will be reassured by study of tie list of require
ments; there is nothing demanded which can
not be attained by any bright girl with careful and
thorough preparation. Only two languages arc re-
CURED and these may be Latin and French, or
Latin and German. Those who have passed these
Spring examinations at liberty to take the liar-
ward course next Winter and il is 70 be hoped that
they will do 50. 1t is more than probabel
that the scheme which has been successful IN Eng
land will be successful in this country of uni
yersal education. and those school principals who
recognize this fact and prepare for 1t will be build
ing roof to keep the of the next decad