The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1890-08-14
FOR HIGHER EDUCATION.
The Rcalizations and Fond Hopes or the
Women Of GERMANY.


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FOR HIGHER EDUCATION.
The Realizationa and Fond Hopes or the
Women Of Germany.
There is SO much activity Of thought
and examination of educational issues
to-day thatone must have hundred pairs
Of eyes to see it all. and one must be a
modern Briarcus to clip all the items
caught by printers ink. 1t would be
enough to occupy ones hope and atten-
ton to study a single movemcnt-that
isl Germany looking to the higher edu-
cation of women there. 1t is little
stir to give the privileges and enrolling
81 larger educational opportunities
where there has been a 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 fourdcd. just where it ought to
have had its origin, at Weimar. in 1883.
The ladies' Of the association forwarded
to the Minister Of Education of Bavaria,
Wurtemburg and Prussia 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 these 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 waysile bush, but that they must
be trained and thus provided. The petit
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
iiness by having such course.
After eight months, Minister Won
Gossler replied that the evils had been
exaggerated. that women were already
extensively employed as teachers, and
that the best positions were 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 it
seemed to deny the usefulness of the
confirmation instruction, which, rs now
given by men, is most blessed insti-
tuition
Tie separation of the women who
Went 10 college would end their
enlargement from family life. Finally
and the finally" is little idiomatic
Int respectable young women, now
finding employment suited to their
abilities in the girls schools, would be
unable 10 pay the expense OF the pro-
posed course, and would be thus driven
out Of the business of teaching.
The petition has accomplished moth
ing directly. As soon as the attitude of
the minister was known, the document
was pigcoE-holed by the rrussian House
Of Representatives The indirect bene-
fit, however, can hardly be estimated.
The public press has taken up the cause
and is eagerly discussing it pro and con.
Influential leaders of public opinion are
airing the arguments Of the petitioners
and are emphasizing them to the people.
The weakness of Minister Won Gossler's
argument has furnished the target for
SO many arrows of wit that the air is full
Of their whir and whiz. The conscience
Of the prussian Government is SO
prickcd by this that it has lately sent
an envoy To inquire into the methods
and workings Of the English colleges for
women.
Moreover, higher course of instruc-
tion for women who are to teach has
been established in connection with the
Victoria Lyceum at Berlin. The ideal
and method of this course are essential
ly the same as those of the universities,
and it is thought that the Lyceum will
develop into university for women.
The courses are to he systematic and
obligatory, To extend over three years,
to combine lectures with seminary work,
and to terminate in a State examine
tion With diploma for those who
pass.
Another movement is the Realkurse
fur Frauen, recently inaugurated at Ber-
lin, which aims to give women advanced
instruction in mathematics, physics,
chemistry, political economy and Ger
man, the instruction being such as will
make women more independent in their
relations to modern life.
Parallel with all this is the decision
OF the Prussian Ministry in regard to
women teachers. In 1870, when men were
scarce, because the war needed SO many
of them, women were tried as teachers.
Now it is decreed that whenever a fe-
male teachers place becomes vacant it
can not he filled by man, as was pro-
posed by provincial government, but
must be filled by woman. This is an
entering wedge in the matter of higher
education, and every one is Watching
eagerly for the outcome.
The whole position is better under
stood when one realizes that the girls OF
Germany enter school at seven or eight
years of age and are graduated at Fl fifteen
or sixteen. The last years are devoted
10 furious examining process, and ut
nineteen their education is merely a