The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1880-11-03
A State Female College, vs.. The Col
leeiate Co-Education Of the Sexes.

male College would be to throw open the
male university to the white females Of the
State, or rather to open department for
females in connection with the university.
He says it is for the women of the State to
say whether it should be attempted.
/ think it should not. do not think it is
what is needed, or desired, by the white fe-
males of Mississippi.
Judge Chalmers says, Sin the male col
leges already thrown open to females in this
country, and in England, from ten to fifteen
per cent. only of the students are young
women" cannot believe this small atten-
dance offemales is because they do not de-
sire education nor should the length of the
university course account for it. In most
universities there is an Eclectic course
which could be completed at sixteen, seven
teen, or at latest eighteen years of age, and
this is early enough for any girl to enter
the world, or society, or matrimony 1t in
these institutions only ten or fifteen per
cent. of the students are females, it shows
conclusively that the majority of parents are
opposed to the collegiate co-education of
the sexes Again, according to Judge
Chalmers letter only forty, or sixty, or per-
haps as high as eighty girls would avail
themselves of the university course, if the
was presented. Then that is
manifestly not what is generally desired e.
What do we want? Just what was asked for
"a State Female College. 1 quote again
from Judge Chalmers letter: ''There are
not perhaps a dozen male schools in Missis-
sippi where any considerable number of boys
are gathered for the purpose of receiving
such an education as will properly fit them
for entrance into the freshman class at the
university. On the contrary such schools
abound for girls. At Clinton, Summit,
Brookhaven, Meridian, Charleston, Holly
Springs, Oxford, Columbus, Pontotoc,
Aberdeen, and many other places, there are
large female academies or colleges in each
of which from one to two hundred girls are
receiving education as complete as the major
ity Of them Or their parents desire"
Does not the very abundance of such
schools prove the necessity or demand for
them? And if schools of that grade are what
is needed for girls, then that is the kind the
State should supply. Judge Chalmers asks,
''would it be wise in the State to establish a
free college of the same grade for the pur-
pose of giving the same kind Of an eduea-
ton ?' And adds, crest assured that if it is
done it will result in breaking down some
of these private institutions and in crippling
the remainder" That argument reminds
me of the logic of that community in Texas
that clamored and voted against a great rail-
road enterprise, that would develop their re-
sources and increase the value of their real
estate, because a few teamsters world be
thrown out of employment. But / do not
believe the better private institutions would
be at all injured. Persons of ample means
would still patronize them because they
would furnish all the accomplishments, as
painting, drawing, music, wax homework,
ETC., which in a State institution would rank
as "extras" and should be charged for. The
State could not educate all the girls, nor
should she offer them more than practical
education-the languages and the English
course as far as taught in our best Female
Colleges, with the addition of book keeping,
telegraphy, Typography, and such other
branches as the necessities of the times may
demand. The benefits of this institution
would be reaped by the poorer girls of the
State who are now debarred the privilege of
a collegiate education by lack of means.
The establishment of State College would
raise the standard of female education and
improve all our female schools, because
in order to compete successfully with such
an institution they must offer equal, if not
superior advantages. Judge Chalmers asserts
"the education afforded at the State College
of the private ones" That is mere assertion.
If the State Male University can compete
with private institutions of similar grade
if its standard of scholarship is just as high
why .hould State Female College be in
ferior to private Colleges of like grade?
Now as to the expense-The whole cost to
the State for buildings need not exceed fifty
thousand dollars If some benevolent, pub
lic-spirited individuals were to leave to Dr.
Hillman, or DR.. johnson, or any other sue
cessful educator, fifty thousand dollars they
could furnish a first-class Female College
complete in all its appointments, capable of
accommodating from four hundred to six
hundred pupils. But the expense to the
State need not reach that amount.
Any enterprising community would
donate the land and part of the mon
ey to have such an institution in their midst
Once established, an annual appropriation of
at most twenty thousand dollars would carry
it on, with perhaps an annual surplus for inn
provements, or library fund Many girls
could assist in the domestic work of the IL
stitution and thus pay their board. 1t is
for such an institution as this, that we ask.
1t will raise our poor girls above the condi-
ton of menials and help them to earn their
daily bread by becoming competent teachers,
and our public or common schools will new
er be so successful until this is DONE
Money invested in State Female College
would be money invested both well and
wisely. Economy is great word
with demagogues and political parties. Is
it economy in State to hoard within her
treasury, with misery greed, the taxes paid
by her people? Ought not her policy to be
rather "the greatest good to the greatest
number" cost what it may?
The white ladies of the State pay taxes
and we do not ask for two hundred thous-
and dollar College, nor do we want share
in the male University. The time, if ever,
to have offered the latter was when the
University was first founded. The Act of
Congress provides for the establishment of
a Seminary Of learning" H nolChere states
that the Seminary should be for boys only, SO
that the taking of the fund for males ex-
clusively, in the first instance, was an unjust
discrimination, which savored of class leg
islation and might be regarded as violation
of the Act of Congress, and breach of
II. r IL