The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-10-22
VIRGINIA'S UNIVERSITY
PROF. THORNTON SPEAKS or TIE
HIGHER EDUCATION OF WOMEN.
Lack of Funds is q Barrier that Prevents
the Scheme From Being Adopted-Prof.
Minor Resigned as instructor ofLaw.

Professor William M. Thornton, chair
nan OF the faculty OF the University OF Vir-
girla, has in compliance with the Virginia
statute. submitted his report for the ses-
sion of 1928 Of the University. to Hon.
orable John f. Massey, Superintendent
of Public Instruction. In his report he
states that last year there was a total
attendance Of Students OF 547, as against
SIC for the preceding year. OF the 1878
class there were 3Ol students from Virgin
ia, the others being, as usual, mainly
from the Southern and Southwestern
States.
Professor Thornton, speaking OF the
Linden Kent Memorial School Of English
Literature says 1t was the chief ADDITION
during the past year 70 the means Oh IN
struction offered by the University In It's
academical department. This school 10
supported by the donation Of $I'Vo from
Mrs. Linden Kent, Of Washington, ID. o.
TO found memorial 20 her husband the
late Linden Kent, OF that city VINO was
graduated from this University in 1870.
The work of the School Of Erglish mas
been divided, Instructions in the Engnsh
language being left to the old school,
while the work IN English literature,
Rhetoric and Belles-letters has been as
signed 10 the new.
The Law department suffered during the
past session from the Illness OF the senior
professor, Mr.. John B. Minor, and the
simultaneous in6ispcsiton Of his assistant,
Mr.. John -. Minor. Jr. The interval oc-
casloned by this last cause was bridged
over by the kindly and timely aid Of Mr..
| Raleigh G. Minor, y. l.. Of 1880, ana
| the work Of the classes was thus carried
| on with regularity and order. BY the ex-
| ercise Of strict economy in the appropria-
| tions for the next session the visitors
| have been enabled so TO strengthen the
teaching staff of this department as 10
put the regular order of its lectures be-
yond the risk of any probable contingen-
cies. A new chair Of Mercantile Law and
the Law Of Personal Property has been
created and filled by the appointment Of
| Mr. William Minor Lille, Of LynchburS,
| Va, a bachelor of law Of this University,
| OF the session of 1882 Mr.. Raleigh c.
Minor has been appointed assistant to
| Professor John B. Minor. The Law facui-
ty, consisting thus Of three professors and
an instructor, will be able TO maintain
and even to advance the standard OF In
strucuon.
Education of Women.
The higher education Of women Is a
subject that continues to engage the at
tention OF the faculty and visitors. In
response to an application from Miss
Caroline Preston Davis, women were adj
mitted to stand the graduating eXamina-
tions Of the University Din an apartment
separate from the mem. Miss Davis was
the only woman who availed herself oil
the provision. After a year spent under
tie private tuition Of the Instructor in
Mathematics, she took the graduating
examinations Of that school and passed
them with distinction.
Admission to examination, as the ex
perience OF the past session shows, vii
prove a barren privilege without some
: systematic and adequate provision fol
University instruction. In the majority o.
the courses the most fruitful part Of IN
teaching is given by lectures. In the de
, partments Of Natural Science and Natura
History, especially, II is impossible to Civ
adequate instruction without free use o
the apparatus Of the Laboratory and tn
collections OF the Museum. To teach
these subjects otherwise than by the de
monstrative methods is a fraud and ;
farce
The method Of the annex and tn,
method Of co-education are the two which
have been employed at other universe
ties in dealing with this problem. In tn,
Annex the young women have the sam,
lectures as the young men, from th'
same professors, but at a different place
and a different time. Thus TO duplicate
the work Of a professor almost halves
his efficiency and requires n faculty
2 nearly twice as large as would other
wise be needed. Double sets OF build
ings and experimental apparatus ar
also required. Nothing need be added t
show that this method effectually car
! I'd 10 mi
l large endowment from private benefac
! tors for this specific purpose could justif.
this University in ENGRAVING the Anne
on its present structure.
2 The co-educauon Of the Sexes is tn
method of solution. which has bee
most fully tested in America. It ha
p, most friends where it has been longes
' and best tried, and II is not withou
D ardent advocates among the teachers O
our Virginia public schools. Yet 1t can
" not be denied that ii introduces int
[ University administration novel and in
V tricate problems and runs counter I
the settled convictions and rooted pre-
. iudices Of the more conservative anon
i our Southern people. Apart from thes
, ! difficulties which it were stupid to ie
T more and these convictions which II weF
3 rash to cCntemn, il is also metho
which can properly be set on foot onl
| at cons lerdDie COST. ESpeCldl lOublhb
r must be provided under suitable ear
= and control: a waiting room and stud
] must be fitted up and a suitable after
b dant employ cd; the physical culture {
1 Young women must be looked TO equal
with that OF men; and courses OF III
! struction especially appropriate to the
l needs will soon be called for TN
method, although far less costly ina
[ the Annex. is one which would seriousl
strain the resources of a school alread
bending its utmost effort to fulfil II
appointed task. We cannot but ask oul
selves whether It is wise, whether
Is right, 10 cripple school deslgne
primarily for men, in order that II ma
, do partial and perhaps inenectuai wor
for women. only by smaller but ST.
liberal endowments could this plan |
made easy and safe.
r The financial difficulty is seen 10 bf
a the way in whichever direction advanc
i is attempted. IL the earnest advocac
OF higher education for women, whic
Z appears in our pubic prints, is ger
! uine reflection OF public sentiment;
$ the appeal Of women themselves Il
equal opportunities with men in educ'
, ton commends itself as wise and rigf
G TO their own sex; il ought not TO
long before the voluntary contributor
OF the Weather women OF Virginia an
I the South would provide here, or els
where. those opportunities for study an
culture which Southern women now col
fessediy lack.
The University instruction may be mac
IL ~