The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-08-17
woman's Education in New York

The report of Mr.. Secretary DEWEY to the
Board of Regents Of the University con-
tains u great deal OF information regard
ing the progress of the secondary and higher
education in the Empire State. OF spe-
cial interest is the light thrown on the po-
sition occupied by New York among Ameri-
can commonwealth with respect to the IA
~cilities afforded for the academical, collegi-
ate, and professional instruction Of women.
1t appears from the statistics collected by
Mr.. DEWEY that there were last year in the
secondary schools Of this State 30, 500 girls
of academic grade, and only 1928 boys.
or AS honor credentials issued, 29S, or
more than two-thirds, were gained by girls.
In our colleges the number of women grad
yates rose to 2,923, one being reported
from Columbia, 80 from the City uni
versity, 761 from the co-education col
leges, and 2,07S from the eight
women's colleges. In the professional
and technical schools, there were 4,043
women, including eight in law schools
and 2l6 in medical schools. The Universal
ist Seminary at Canton reports three female
students in theology. BY the so-called spe-
cial schools 3,S0S women were returned. or
thVSt, - ~ ~ a W OF Ntt
25G to the Teachers College; 1873 to the
State Normal College; 3Os to the Woman's
Art School; l9S to the Grand Conservatory
OF Music, and 121 to the Cooper Union
night schools.
So far as the United States are concerned,
New York has always held the first place in
woman's education. Indeed, the Albany
female academy claims to be the first insti-
tuition for the higher education of women
ever founded in the world. This Is, no
doubt, true as regards establishments ex-
clusively designed for the female sex, but 1t
must he remembered that in the middle
ages women were permitted not only to
study hut to teach in Italian universities.
An early and well known rival Of the
Albany institution was Miss EMMA Will
LARD's school at Troy. 1t 10 the boast
of Elmira College that its charter
of April IS, 1855, made It the
first degree-conferring college solely for
women; while Vassar, which started
with a generous endowment on Jan IS,
1851, Immediately acquired a recognized
leadership as the first of the great estab-
lishments for the higher instruction of wo-
men. Thus it appears that all four claim
ants to the honor Of first having lone effec-
tive work oil a large scale for woman's edu-
cation, are New York institutions. Another
fact is worth recording. Although New
York reports six colleges for women and
four for co-education, only Vassar, Cornell,
and Syracuse are included In the national
association; yet these three alone furnish
about 40 per cent. OF the list OF women
holding degrees from recognized colleges.
Teaching is still the ~favorite profession OF
highly educated women. According to the
census OF 1890, there were in the whole
Union l25,525 men and 23S, 1907 women
teachers. OF the teachers in the New York
common schools 26,s69 are women. But
teaching Is no longer limited to
primary grades. She has steadily won her
way through grammar schools, high schools,
and colleges to chairs in universities. 1t
should not be inferred, however, that a ma
jority Of the graduates OF female colleges are
with the purpose of pursuing
any professional calling. The remarkable
development attained of late years by New
York institutions for the higher education
OF women is due TO a widespread recognition
OF the fact that a college course, wisely
planned and industriously followed, affords
the best preparation for the intelligent dis
charge of the functions Of wifehood and
motherhood and the duties of nome life.
The movement 10 which we have here re-
ferred is increasing at a surprising rate.
number Of girls in thisS State who en-
tered college last year from schools super
vised by the Board OF Regents, was "a per
cent. greater than il was the year before;
and the number OF those now preparing to
enter will show, as we are informed, a similar
The best colleges for women
are far from being able to receive all the
qualified applicants. New colleges are on
being founded, and, what will prove
Of even more utility, the older colleges and
universities are rapidly opening to women
their facilities for instruction. In American
generally the proportion of female
students is considerably larger than IL was
even a few years ago. For instance, the at
tendance of women at the University OF
Michigan rose last year from 80 per cent.
TO 81 per cent, The author Of this report az
presses the belief that early in the next cen
fury our colleges will graduate more women
than men, just as the academies do now.