The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1883-03-25
The Education OF Women at the Boston
University.

For some nine years. or ever since It's foun-
dalton. the Boston University has admitted
young women on precisely the same footing
as young men to oil Its departments, priv
ileges, and academical honors. What have
been the workings and results OF this inter-
esting experiment. We find full and
reasonably satisfactory answer to that ques-
ton In the Presidents report for 1882
which has recently been published.
Before adverting to some Of tho suggestive
facts brought out in this report, we should
promise that the proportion Of female stu
dents has heretofore been lessencd by the
circumstance that until very lately, 1t was
practically useless for them to avail them
selves Of the privileges offered by one depart
ment Of the Boston University. the School Of
Law. One young woman, indeed, was gradu-
ated with distinction from this school, but the
Supreme Court OF Massachusetts rendered
decision that under the existing law no men,
Der OF her sex was entitled to become candi-
date for admission to the bar Now, how
ever, by an act passed In April, 1882, all such
restrictions and disabilities arc removed In
Massachusetts, SO far rs the practice OF the
law Is concerned, and, as women may also
be admitted to tho bar in Maine and Con-
necticut, as we'll as In many OF the Western
States, they may henceforth be expected to
profit by tho opportunities OF professional
education afforded by the Boston institution.
It appears that at the last annual COM
mencement, in June, 1882, one hundred and
forty-one were graduated from the several
departments OF this university. There had
been in attendance during the academical
In, oil rln OF nd ~ hnv,
1T were women. OF the 70 Bachelors de-
grecs conferred in science, divinity, laws.
and surgery. women obtained none; but on
the other hand they received IA, or about
half, OF the 90 degrees bestowed for prof.
cioncy in medicine, and out Of 10 degrees OF
Bachelor of Arts. OF the 8 Masters Of Arts
designated at the same time were women,
and one woman was made Doctor OF Philos-
ophy. One female student also received a
diploma certifying to her completion OF the
regular course Of study in the School of
Theology. We may add that in the academi-
cal department or School OF Liberal Arts 80
female undergraduates have gained B. A.
degree since 1877. At present so young
women are pursuing the full classical and
mathematical curriculum In the college
proper, as distinguished from the profess
sional schools.
A good many inquiries relating to the de-
tails OF the management OF co-instruction
have been made by European correspondents
interested in tho improvement of female edu-
cation, and they are answered in this report.
We learn, for example, that there Is q sep
arate entrance for women to the university
building, and to some but not all OF the lee
ture rooms. There Is a separate waiting
room. which Is at the same time, a study and
reading room, equipped with q library con-
tanning dictionaries and books Of reference.
There is nothing, however, In tho construc-
ton or arrangement Of the seats In the lee
ture rooms to secure O separation OF tho
sexes, nor, according to President WAR
Rem, has occasion arisen for any formal
regulation OF the matter. Each pro-
fessor, we are informed, gives such d.
rections on the subject as he chooses
A certain amount Of supervision OF the fe-
male undergraduates is exercised by two stu
dents Of their own sex. one member of the
| senior and the other of the junior class, who
are appointed proctors and serve without pay.
With the exception Of such monitorial over
sight, no attempt ut supcrintendence is made.
or considered necessary. The conditions of
| uuiuicolou W I'LL uCpbIUAcuIS uT0 cNhCUly Lue
same for women as for men, and the course
| OF study Is the same in oil branches. It Is
further to be noted, for to this point many
questions have been directed, that while the
courses Of study have been from time to
| time materially enlarged and strengthened,
no change In the curriculum, in the require
ments for admission or the measure
OF proficiency exacted for degrees. has
ever been made In consequence Of the at
tendance OF women. Another important in
quiry, pressed alike by the friends and the op-
ponents OF co-education, relates to the subse-
qucnt occupations OF female graduates, and
the effect OF their university training on the
positions taken by them in life. Seeing that
the first class was graduated only six years
ago, We must admit 1t Is too early to expect
exhaustive information on this head. We are
told, however, that many OF those who have
secured b. A. degree are holding desirable
posts as teachers, a few are college profess
sors, some are pursuing advanced studies,
others are engaged In literature and journal
ism. OF the female graduates Of the profess
| sional schools, the ono Bachelor OF Laws Ia
| practising her profession in Boston, the four
or five Bachelors In Theology arc regularly
engaged in preaching, and mono OF the ply
sicians have found difficulty In earning a
good livelihood:
Although such facts rs those just cited are
presented in the Presidents report in order
to meet reasonable demands for information,
1t Is contrary to the fundamental principles
OF the Boston University to institute CON-
PARSONS Of sex with sex. 1t is the aim OF
this institution to deal with Its students as
persons, and not as representatives OF dis
tinctions based ON sex or race or color. From
the first. the university authorities have In
sistsd On regarding the sQ-pre.spVe 9i young