The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1880-10-27
Collegiate cO-Education of the Sexes.
a RESPONSE TO "a aIssIssTpPI woMAN.''
Jackson. Mss, Oct. is. 1850

Jackson, Miss, Oct 10, 1880.
EDITORS CLARION The extracts given
in a recent number of The CLARION, from
DR.. Barnard's article on the collegiate CO.
education of the sexes, suggest, it seems to
me, the proper response to the demand OF
your correspondent, "A Mississippi Wo-
man., for the establishment of State
Female College, to-wit: the erection at the
University at Oxford of a boarding house
for ladies and the throwing open of the in
stitut;on to both sexes alike.
1t is shown by DR. Barnard, as was indeed
previously known, that both in England
and America all the great colleges are
opening their doors to women, and with the
happiest results to the students Of both
sexes.
Though an ardent advocate of an equality
of rights for woman, q hesitate as to the
ballot because the majority of educated
women oppose IT'D do not believe that the
establishment of State Female College
would be wise.
The free schools of the State are open to
both sexes alike They afford at present
only the rudiments of primary education,
but the Constitution of the State provides
that the Legislature shall as soon as prac-
ticable establish schools of higher grade.
These higher grade schools have been as yet
established only in the cities of Natchez
and Vicksburg, where they are now
furnishing all the requisites of a substantial
education. When Increasing population
and wealth shall permit of th0C multiple
cation throughout the State, they will ac-
complish the same thing for our whole
population, and they will be open of course
to boys and girls alike.
In the meantime there is wide
and paiful gap between the free
school and the University, which,
thus far has been left to be filled
by private enterprise. 1t is a remarkable
fact that this gap is far better filled for the
girls than for the boys of the State. There
are not perhaps dozen male schools in
Mississippi, where any considerable number
of boys are gathered tor the purpose of re-
ceiying such an education a will properly
hit them for entrance into the freshman
class ut the University. | mean schools
with any considerable number of boys in
actual attendance On the contrary such
schools abound for girls. At Clinton, Summit,
Brookhaven, Meridian, Charleston, Holly
Springs, Oxford, Columbus, Pontotoc Aber-
deem and many other places there are large
female Academies or Colleges, in each of
which from one to two hundred girls, are
receiving educations as complete as the ma
lority of them, or of their parents desire.
Would it be wise in the State to establish
free college of the same grade for the purpose
# CIv cir ba nf aAn ,
Rest assured that if it is done it will result
in breaking down some of these private in
situations, and in Gripping the remainder,
and the education afforded at the State Col
ege will be inferior to that now given in
many of the private ones. But / do not un-
derstand that any body demands the creation
of a State institution for the purpose of
atfording that education of accomplish
meuts, which is acquired at these institu-
tions, and which is deemed satisfactory by
most girls and their parents; but rather that
opportunity IS demanded for the acquisition
of that higher learning, which Oxford offers
to our young men, the opportunity to be-
come accomplished linguIsts, ancient and
modern learned in all the natural aud phys
ical sciences, skilled in mathematics pure
and applied as well as in the suhtleties
OF mental and moral science and the ele-
ments of international and constitutional
law. Gan the CIdte IOunQ ana keep up an
institution like this for girls
To found it with the necessary buildings,
apparatus, museums and libraries will cost
two hundred thousand dollars. To keep it
up as free institution, will cost twenty
five thousand per annum. But there is an
objection more insuImountable than the
cost. No considerable number of girls will
attend it. The average age of students in
the freshman class at the University is
about seventeen years The average age of
graduation is about twenty-one.
Suppose the girls to be more forward in
mental development than the boys: and
say they will graduate at twenty years of
age. How many will remain at college
until that age? How many parents desire
their daughters 10 receive such an educa-
ton ? Experience has already partially
answered this question. In the male colleges
already thrown open to females in this
country and England, from ten to fifteen
per cent. only OF the students are young
women. This would give abant forty or
sixty at Oxford.
They would be composed mostly of those
who designed to make teachers or authors
OF themselves and of a few who had an
ardent love of knowledge for its own sake
The number might be as great as eighty.
AT cost of ten thousand dollars dormi
tory and boarding house could be built for
them at oxford SufhcIentiy near the lecture
rooms and yet completely separated FROM
those occupied by the boys. They would
meet the young men only in the class room
or at other times under such regulations as
the faculty might prescribe or their parents
desire. A musichall should be annexed to
their department with a frst-class professor
and an instructor. 1t would probably be
necessary to charge small tuition fee for
music and this department should be thrown
open to such young men as desired to pur-
sue it.
If the legislature would appropriate ten
thousand dollars for the purpose the expert
ment might be tried. | believe it would be
IA success. If not the building could readily
be utilized for some ether purpose 1t it be !
deemed advisable to give to the girls of the
State the practical education in agriculture
and mechanics, which it is designed to i'm.
part at Starkylle the same experiment might
be tried there.
1t is for the women of the State to say
whether it should be attempted
Respectfully, your obedie.t servant.
II. III. CHAI MERE
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IA NE 4 A NJ MN