American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1880-01-31
A State University for Girls.

n StotS o'hsSso y iCI N'so.
To tie members Of the Mississippi
LegjSiat"e:
GENTLEMEN:-I noticed in one of
the papers published at jackson, a
generous offer, made by Dir. &. NJ.
Walden, the educational Vhilanthro>
piSt of our State. II remember
Alright he proposes Ia give fifty
thousand dollars, provided the State
will give an equal amount, to estab-
Iish college at Walden. He does
not say what kind of a college. Now,
gentlemen, l suggest that it would
be most graceful act, and also an
act of Justice on your part TO meet
DIR. Walden half>way and establish
in this State a college for white fe,
males. In the CLARION, a few years
ago, a tabular state ment appeared
showing that within the past few
years upward of two hundred and
ninety thousand dollars had been
paid out of the State Treasury to
the three cblored high schools l.
corn, Tugaloo aud Holly Springs.
| Doubtless much more than that has
been appropriated to our two uni-
versitieS for white males, whilst. as
has been trlithfully stated, "there is
not single high school in all the
State which is available to those of
our white daughters whose means
are limited"
Why this Discrimination There
may be some perhaps, who deny the
expectancy of educating females be-
yond IA know ledge of the rudiments
of the English language. l know
many of the sex are weak and silly
and Justify the numerous deroga
tory opinions concerning females
which haunt the minds of many of
the sterner sex. But is not this on
~ Il stronger argument for proper
traininsl
First of all, home-training, such
as only an educated Christian moth
er can give. Secondly, school-train-
ing, such as only trained teacher
can accomplish. To have these ed
ucated mothers and teachers. nor
NAL schools should be established,
and female education should be put
upon the basis of free tuition so that
the poorer classes can he reached.
Men may tell me that there were
no State female colleges in Martha
Washington's day, aud yet we have
had few like her. Would it have
made her one whit the less Martha
Washington to have had her native
intelligence and practical good sense
trained and developed in such an
institution? Because. forsOoth, Ben
jamiu Franklin and Horace Greedy.
and self rdn cated, must We have no
male schools and unlversitiesf
Sore assert that State normal
school or university for females
would not begin to do.
They cite the university at Oxford
as IA place of great moral depravity
which is every where abundant IN
human nature. The are doubtless
Alumni and ex pupils of that insli
cution among you who can best
answer that charge,
know that improper education
and defective training are dear, at
| last, though they cost nothing, but
am satisfied il DR.. Walden and the
State unite in making an apprOpii>
alton for State Female College,
there will be wisdom and prudence
enuOeh in our State to hedge such
AMI institution about with needful
restrictions. Such an institution
could be successfully established
and managed, and wouid rebound
TO the lasting good of the females of
our State, as well as to the imper>
ishable glory af DR.. Walden and tue
Mississippi Legislature OF 1880.
All of which is respectfully sub
mitttd for your careful and earnest
consideration. by
a MISSISSIPPI WOMAN.
Jan. 18Th, 1880.