Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-06-20
sUNDAY...............JUNE 20, 1886.
Higher Female Education.

The exhibit made this year by our
institutions for the higher education Of
females is no less gratifying than that
made by our institutions for the higher
education of males. This applies as
we'll to the matter Of faithful work on
the part of teachers and pupils as to the
matter of attendance. The attend
ance at all Of the leading Viz
pinis female schools has been good,
and, as is the case with our colleges
and universities, the examinations show
q decided movement in the direction OF
raising the standard Of graduation.
While what are generally termed
the ornamental branches Of female
education are not being neglected.
more attention is being paid than
ever before TO solid studies--stu-
dies that make demands upon the
thinking faculties rather than upon the
memory, and which develop mental
discipline. Nor is that all. Even the
ornamental branches are taught more
systematically and thoroughly, and
with more practical end in view than
of old. The course in the average
Virginia female seminary Of to-day is
therefore no child's play, and the man
who entertains the idea that the "sweet
girl graduate " is superficial creature
whose head is stuffed full Of the bric-a-
brac of knowledge and who possesses
only smattering, " makes grave mis-
take. That We are not wrong needs no
other proof than is furnished by the
calls our female seminaries have for
teachers from among their graduates.
1t is rarely the case, we understand,
that full graduate Of any Of our promi-
nent female schools cannot secure asitus-
ton as teacher ifshe SO desires. Thatco
sideration alone should, we think, silence
the few who are still opposed to higher
female education. None regret more
than we that any woman should be
compelled to earn her own living. But
the cold fact stares US in the face that
the cases in which it becomes necessary
for women to work are increasing
yearly. Why this is so it is not neces-
sary to inquire. That it is so renders
it the duty Of every man who can afford
80 to do togive his daughters the means Of
meeting any exigency that might arise
wherein they would be forced to sup
port themselves. And what occupation,
we ask, is nearer the true sphere of
woman than teaching? The family
circle excepted, in what other sphere
can her influence work more good? But
there are other grounds upon which
"higher education Of women" ap-
peals for encouragement, and other
reasons why we should feel gratifled
at the high plane the Virginia female
schools have attained. The educated
woman in the household has q refining
influence upon the whole family, and
the educated woman in society demands
higher education in men. We believe
that it can be demonstrated that the
work of our female schools has
had considerable influence in keep
ing up the attendance upon our
colleges and universities. We
believe that nothing is better calculated
to stimulate culture among men than
culture among women, and that every
advance made by our institutions for
the higher education Of females will re-
dound to the advantage of our institutions
for the higher education Of males. For
tho sake of the boys as well as the
girls Of Virginia "higher female edu-
cation" should be literally sustained
and developed in every possible way.