The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1880-01-28
A State College for White Females:
To the Members of the Mississippi Legislature


To the Members of the Mississippi Legislature
GENTLEMEN II noticed in one of the
papers published at Jackson, a generous Of
fer made by Or. c. NJ. Walden, the educa-
tional philanthropist Of our State. If re-
member Alright he proposes to give fifty
thousand dollars, provided the State will
give an equal amount, to establish College
at Walden. He does not say what kind OF a
College. Now, gentlemen, / suggest that it
would be graceful act, and also an act OF
justice upon your part to meet DIR. Walden
half way and establish in this State Col
lege for white females. In the CLARION, a
few weeks ago, tabular statement appeared,
showing that within a few years past up
wards of two hundred and ninety thousand
dollars 1920 100000 had been paid out of
the State treasury to the three colored high
schOols-Alcorn, Tugaloo, and Holly Springs
Doubtless much more than that has been
appropriated to our two universities for
white males, whilst as has been truthfully
stated, "there is not single high-school in
all the state which is available to those of her
white daughters whose means are limited"
Why this discrimination There may be
some perhaps, who deny the expediency of
educating females beyond a knowledge Of
the rudiments of the English language. ]
know many of the sex are weak and silly,
and Justify the numerous derogatory opin-
minds Of many Of the sterner sex. But Is
not this only stronger argument for prop
er training?
First of all, hOn1e-training, such as only an
educated Christian mother can give. Sec
ondly, school-training, such as only train
ed teacher can accomplish. To have these
educated mothers and teachers, normal
schools should be established, and female
education should be put upon the basis of
u, -
reached.
Men may tell me there were no State Fee
male Colleges in Martha Washington's day
and yet we have had few like her, would it
have made her one whit the less Martha
Washington to have had her native intelli-
gence and practical good sense, trained and
developed in such an institution? Because
forsooth, Benjamin Franklin and Horace
Greeley and host of others were selEmade
and self-educated, must we have no male
schools and universities?
Some assert that State University or
normal school for females would not begin
to do. They cite the University at Oxford
rs place of great moral depravity, and ar
que that State Female College must nee
es@arily be like it, and therefore is inexpe-
dent and undesirable. / know little of
the State University at Oxford, or of its pc
culiar fitness for developing that deprayity
which is every where abundant in human
nature There are doubtless Alumni and
ex-pupils of that institution among you who
can best answer that charge.
know that improper education and de-
fective training are dear, at last, though
they cost nothing, but | am satisfied if DR..
Walden ard the State unite in making an
appropriation for a State Female College, /
there will be wisdom and prudence enough
in our State to hedge such an institution
about with needful restrictions. Such an
institution could be successfully established, /
and managed, and would rebound TO the /;
lasting good of the females of our state, as
we'll as to the imperishable glory Of DR.. Val
den and the Mississippi Legislature of 1880. /
All of which is respectfully submitted for
your careful and earnest consideration by /
A MISSISSIPPI WOMAN.
Jan. 10Th, 1880.