The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1885-09-17
HIGHER EDUCATION uF WOMEN

1ue AO1iOW1uB 4ntSko3I11R STATISTICS On
the higher education Of women are ex-
tracts from the association Of collegiase
alumnae:
The association of collegiate alumnae
was organized In 1889 by leading grsdu-
ates from the leading colleges aRd uni
versities of the United Ststes. II now
numbers $50 members, who are widely
scattered throughout the country. The
first general work which was attempted
was to investigate the health of women
graduates, subject which is Of the gray-
est importance. because of its import
ance 70 the higher education of Women,
and one which hitherto has been left TO
theory and suftnIs5. a COMMITTEES of
which Miss Annie G. Howes, of Boston,
was chairman, prepared and sent to /, 800
alumnae 9 schedule Of over forty ques-
tiOns, relating TO conditions OF child
hood, individual health, family health,
college conditions and conditions since
graduation. Seven hundred and i've of
these circulars were returned, and q
pamphlet has been issued by
suits :nH A''O Of the giving uvs sAs Ts
as collected by the bureau Of statistics
of labor. Referring briefly TO the blab-
crate tables which have been prepared
Ii appears: that the graduates are large
" Of American parentage. The average
age at which they began study was 564
years, at entering college ID .35 years,
and the average present age is 28.5S
years. During college life the majority
studied but moderately, and only A per
cent did not worry over their studs or
affairs. Since graduation all seem to
have found congenlal occupation, q
great many az teachers, while eight only
are occupied with social duties to the
exclusion OF other occupations. Some
what over One-fourth have married, and
OF the whole number OF children borne
by them the greater part are living and
in good health. On entering college
7o.l6 per cent were In good, 90 per
cent In fair and 1885 in poor health.
Since graduation the percentages are
II 80, 9 ii and 1902 respectively. In
other words, 1873 report q deterioration
In health, 4lS have had no change and
149 show an improvement In health
The most prevalent cause of disorder is
constitutional weakness. The present
health OF the graduates seems to have
been affected according as their
parents have enjoyed either
good or poor health, the fig
ures showing per cent increase in
health for those whose parents were
both IN good health, and . decline in
health OF over II per cent for those
whose parents were both in poor health.
For those who entered college at 16
years Of age or under. an increased de-
terioratlon in health OF between 10 and
II per cent, as compared with those who
entered at later age IL observed. Those
who worried over studies alone show
mn naEnanffhI0 n
who worried over personal affairs, q de-
cline in health of over 10 per cent those
who worried over both studies and af-
fairs, decline IN health of 10 per cent,
while those who worried oVsr neither
studies nor affairs show an increase In
health of 10 per cent. Although the
average good health of the graduates
who studied severity was considerably
less than the average good health of ali
the graduates, their health did not suffer
material deterioration during college
life. The value of these statistics cannot
be questioned on the ground that their
loyalty to their alma mater would pre-.
vent those whose experience was IN
favorable from sending in state
ment, as tabulation was begun
when 455 answers had been ne
ceived and the percentage sverag-
ing good health bore about the same
proportion TO the total number then re-
ceived, as IT does now that $50 more re-
turAs have been gained. The bureau of
statistics of labor, IN concluding the re-
port, says: "The facts which we have
presented would seem to warrant the as
sertiOn that the seeking of college ed
ucation on the part OF women does not
in itself necessarily entail a lose OF
health or serious impairment of the vital
forces. Indeed, the tables show this SO
conclusively that there is little need
were 1t within our province, for extend
ed discussion on the subject. The grad
yates, as a body, entered college in good
health. passed through the course of
study prescribed without material change
in health, and since graduation, by rea-
son of the effort required to gain higher
education do not seem to have become
untitled TO meet the responsible
ties or bear their proportionate
share of the burdens of lite. It is true
that there has been. and 1t was to be ex.
pected there would be, certain deteri.
Grafton in health on the part of some of
the graduates. On the other hand, an
almost identical improvement IN health
for like number was reported, show
ing very plainly that We must look else
where for the causes of the greater part
of this decline in health during college
lite. If we attempt TO trace the cause we
find that this deterioration is largely
due, not to the requirements of college
life particularly, but 70 predispOsIng
causes natural to the graduates them
selves, born in them as il were, and for
which college life or study should not
be made responsible"
R5EE -Is{F<aRv