Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1890-08-21
FOR HIGHER EDUCATION.
The Realizations and Fond Hopes of the
Women of Germany.


The Realizations and Fond Hopes of the
Women of Germany.
There is so much activity of thought
and examination of educational issues
to-day that one must have hundred pairs
of eyes to see it all, and one must be
modern Briareus to clip all the items
caught by printers ink. 1t would be
enough to occupy ones hope and atten-
ton to study single movement-that
in Germany looking to the higher edu-
cation of women there. 1t is little
stir to give the privileges and enrolling
of larger educational opportunities
where there has been comparative
dearth of them for women, except in the
case of specially favored ones, few in
number.
An association for the purpose of Sc
curing advanced education for women
was founded, just where it ought to
have had its origin, at Weimar, in 1885,
The ladies of the association forwarded
to the Minister of Education of Bavaria
Wurtemburg and Prussia a petition ask
ing for the admission of women to the
universities in these parts of the EN-
pire, urging the privilege of following
certain scientific courses. Their argu-
ment was that women should be more
extensively employed in teaching girls,
especially in teaching ethical subjects
and those forming character, and that
the Government should provide schools
where women might receive training
adequate to these demands. They
argued, further, that schools for girls
were organized on the wrong principle,
and that they should aim to train all
the faculties of girls, to produce woman
hood of the highest and complete
type, just as the present system Of edu-
cation for men aims to produce manhood
of the ideal kind
The paper frankly admitted that wom-
en- of the kind desired do not grow on
every wayside bush, but that they must
be trained and thus provided. The petit
ton was marked by wise conservatism
that neither asked nor favored the adj
mission of women to the universities,
but pleaded for the erection of public
colleges similar to those for women in
England, viz: Girton and Newman.
The memorial further showed that wom-
en- are mentally and physically equal to
the severe course of study asked for
them, and that they will gain in woman
illness by having such course.
,rbt Ia
Gossler replied that the evils had boon
exaggerated, that women were already
extensively employed as teachers, and
that the best positions we're open to
those who would qualify themselves for
them; that the government was already
making generous provision for the
training of women in the seminaries at.
tached to girls schools.
The idea that women should teach re-
ligion was preposterous, in that il
seemed to deny the usefulness of the
confirmation instruction, which, as nov
given by men, is a ''most blessed insti
tuition"
The separation of the women who
went to college would end theil
estrangement from family life. Finally
and the finally is little idiomatit
when logically considered-many poo
but respectable young women, now
finding employment suited to thei
abilities in the girls schools, would b,
unable to pay the expense of the pro
posed course, and would be thus driver
out of the business of teaching.
The petition has accomplished moth
ing directly. AS soon as the attitude o
the minister was known, the documen
was pigeon-holed by the Prussian Hous,
of Representatives. The indirect bene
fit, however, can hardly be estimated
The public press has taken up the caus
and is eagerly discussing it pro and con
Influential leaders of public opinion ar
airing the arguments of the petitioner
and are emphasizing them to the people
The weakness of Minister Won Gossler'
argument has furnished the target 10
so many arrows ofwit that the air is full
of their wbir and whiz. The conscienc
of the Prussian Government is S
pricked by this that 1t has lately sen
an envoy to inquire into the method
and workings of the English colleges fc
women.
Moreover, higher course of instru,
ton for women who are to teach hs
been established in connection with tn
Victoria Lyceum at Berlin. The ides
and method of this course are essentia
" the same as those Of the universities
and it is thought that the Lyceum wi
develop into university for wemsI