The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-09-21

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struction given to the men is repeat
ed to the women, in different classes
or rooms, and there is more or less
opportunity to use the same libraries
and museums. In some other insti-
buttons the relations are closer, the
privileges of study being similar, the
differences being mainly in the rules
of conduct by which the young wom-
ca are hedged in, the young men
making their own regulations.
It seems to me that the annex sys-
tenn cannot be a permanent one.
The annex student does not get the
best of the institution, and the best
is none too good for her. Sooner or
later she will demand it, or go where
the best can be found. The best
students will cease to go to the an
mex. The institution must then ad-
NIT women on equal terms or not ad-
NIT them at all. There is certainly
no educational reason why women
should prefer the annex of one insti-
tuition if another equally good throws
| its doors wide open for her.
3. The third system is that OF CO.
education. In this relation, young
men and young women are admitted
to the same classes, subjected to the
same requirements and governed by
the same rules. This system is now
fully established in the State institu-
tions of the North and West, and in
most other colleges Of the same re-
gion. Its effectiveness has long since
passed beyond question among those
familiar with its operation. Other
things being equal, the young men
are more earnest, better in manners
and morals, and in all ways more civ
ilized than under monastic conditions.
The women do their work in more
natural way, with better perspective
and with saner incentives than when
isolated from the influence and soci-
| ETY. of men. There is less of Stiffness
and folly when man ceases to be
novelty. There is less attraction ex-
erted by idle and frivolous girls when
young men meet also girls iDdustri-
GUS and serious. In co-educational
institutions of high standards, frivo-
lous conduct or scandals Of any form
are unknown. The responsibility for
decorum is thrown from the school to
the woman, and the woman rises to
the responsibility. Many professors
have entered Western colleges with
strong prejudices against co-educa-
ton. These prejudices have in no
case endured the test of experience.
What is we'll done has a tonic effect
on the mind and character. The col
lege girl has long since ceased to ex-
pect any particular leniency because
she is a girl. She stands or falls
with the character of her work.
1t is not true that the standard of
college work has been in any way
lowered by co-education. The reverse
is decidedly the case. 1t is true, how
ever, that untimely zeal of one sort or
another has filed our Western States
with host of so-called colleges. 1t
is true that most of these are weak,
and doing poor work in poor ways.
1t is true that most of these are CO.
educational. 1t is also true that the
great majority of their students are
not of college grade at all. In such
schools often low standards prevail,
both as to scholarships and as to
manners. The student fresh from the
country, with no preparatory training,
will bring the manners of his home.
These are not always good manners,
as manners are judged in society.
But none of these defects are derived
from CO education; nor are any of
these conditions in any way made
worse by it.
A final question, Does not co-edu-
cation lead to marriage? Most GER
tainly it does, and this fact need not
be and cannot be denied. But such
marriages are not usually premature.
And it is certainly true that no better
marriages can be made than those
founded on common interests and in
tellectual friendships.
A college man who has known col
lege women is not drawn to women
of lower ideals and inferior training.
He is likely to be strongly drawn to-
ward the best he has known. A col
lege woman is not led by mere pro-
pinquity to accept the attention of
inferior men. Among some thirty
college professors educated in CO.
educational colleges - as Cornell,
Wisconsin, Michigan, California =
whose records are before me, two
thirds have married college friends.