The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-05-17
Goodwin Smith On University Degrees
for Women.

1t is well known that at Oxford, as at
Cambridge, young women who pursue the
studies prescribed for a university course
are examined, and, If they pass successfully,
they receive a certificate to the effect that
had the feminine holder thereof been a
man she would have obtained a B.. A. de-
gree. At first sight 1t may seem that such
a certificate has all the value of n degree;
and SO it has, considered merely as a voucher
of the recipients fitness for teaching. 1t
does not qualify, however, for competition
for university honors, offices, and prizes.
Consequently n vigorous effort has been
made to secure the admission of women to
the b.. A. degree, but this further step the
University Of Oxford has, by n recent de-
cision, refused to take. The refusal meets
with the approval Of q distinguished OK
oman, long resident on this side of the At
lantic, Prof. GOODWIN SMITH, who, in a late
humble of the Saturday Rcuicm. sets forth
the grounds of his opinion.
1t is pointed out by Mr.. GOODWIN SMITH
that the dislocation of the whole university
system was mooted by the proposal touch
ing the b. a. degree. If this initial degree
were conceded. it would be impossible not
to grant the NJ. a. degree also, and this
would carry a seat in the three governing
bodies, known as Convocation, Congrega-
ton, and Council. Nor could women with
any consistency be debarred any longer
from competition for honors or for univer-
sity scholarships and prizes. 1t won next
prove impracticable to exclude them from
fellowships, and then would come a claim
to tutorships and professorships. Indeed,
tLa NI,,ta, ,f U,;,it,. Il, ,,;l 90 A., I,,l;,..
forward already to a female Vice-Chancel-
lorship. To Mr.. GOODWIN SMITH there is
something shocking in the idea Of a female
Vice-Chancellor, and so, no doubt, to many
of us there would be in the thought of a
female President of Harvard University.
But, after all, why should not a woman be
qualified for such posts, If she is fit to be q
queen ? Great ELIZA used to lecture her
bishops roundly, and she would have made
nothing Of discharging the functions of q
Vice-C Chancellor
Great ELIAS, however, are rare, and there
is generally acknowledged to be a funda-
mental difference between the male and the
female mind and character. Keeping this
In view, Mr.. GOODWIN SMITH believes that
the outcome of the admission of women to
the b. A. degree, and of the subsequent in
evitable concessions, would be an emascula-
tion of the university system, which must
affect injuriously the national intellect.
1t seems that feminin eXigencies have
been already pleaded for the intrusion
into the Oxford University course of q
school of English literature, evidently in
tended for u so-called soft option" Mr..
GOODWIN SMITH is of the opinion that
women undergraduates, not content with
soft options or methods of securing a de-
gree without earning it, would bring about
eventually the collapse of the competitive
system. Admitting that the majority of
young women, like the majority OF young
men, might be disposed to shirk hard
work, We do not quite see why this
should deter the studious minority from
competing for honors. No woman could be
more eager for soft options than is the aver
age Oxonian or Cantab, who goes In simply
for a pass degree; on the other hand, no
reading man could show himself more
covetous of honor or n greater g.utton for
work than was Miss PmLIrPA FAwCETT,
who at Cambridge was certified to have
evinced a proficiency in mathematics
which, had she been a man, would have
a her the senior wrangler. Mr..
GOODWIN SMITH seems to think that, had her
masculine rivals known that Miss FAwCErT
was competing with them, they would from
%gallantry have suffered her to beat them
At least, We should draw this inference
from the statement, ait is difficult to i'm
agine any young Englishman so regardless
of the sentiment: OF sex as to enter into a
competition with women" 1t would be in
teresting 20 learn whether, as a matter of
fact, gallantry has ever been carried so far
IN any of the American colleges where Co
education is prsctised.
If it could be proved that the co-education
of the sexes was incompatible with COMPETE
tion for honOrs, the fact would be deemed
by many persons fatal to the admission of
women to the h. A. degree. All intelligent
sdyocstcs Of a university training will admit
that love of a subject Is "A better Incentive