New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-15
SEX IN EDUCATION.
REVIVAL OF THE STRUGGLE OVER M
GREEs AT OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES An.
MITTED TO COUNCIL OF THE s
AUTHORS SOCIETY.

Inc queens year may Witness conspicuouA
| triumph Of women's rights. I do no. refer to N.
recent passage Of the Woman Suffrage bill to
second reading. for, although that event w.s
| not without significance, the debate which pre
| coded 1t was artificial and insncere and dM
not reveal the real opini)n Of the House of Com.
| mons respecting a momentous change In thu
British electorate. While the majority for tho
| bill was Unexpectedly large. it was misleading
as the vote on the cademic resolution In favor
Of bimetallism at the last session Of Parliament
| Notwithstanding the division. there is no eu.
| dence which can be considered convincing that
| the Woman Suffrage movement is making
Roadway In England. Women themselves are
taking little int. est in It. and until they arr
vitally concerned In their political emancipation
there will only be dress parade debates on Their
| behalf In Parliament. The triumph Of womant
| rights. which now seems probable, Is 10 be won
| at the universities, where dsgiees have been
| withheld from them on the ground Of sex. The
| battle IS still to be fought, but Cambridge nov
promises to lead the way for oxford In vndicas.
| ing the rights OF women to obtain degrees which
| have been fairly earned.
| Nine universities In the United Kingdom, MA
| a large number of affiliated colleges. have com.
! pleted the emancipation Of women In higher edu.
| cation All courses Of instruction open 10
| them on terms of equality with men. and de-
! erees are conferred without reference TO sex
upon all candidates who properly qualify them.
selves for passing the examinations. only three
| universities, oxford, Cambridge and Dublin
| have declined to grant degrees to women Col
leges for women have been founded at both o..
| ford and Cambridge; lecture-rooms have been
| opened to them and they have been allowed 10
| study for degrees and 10 present themselves for
| examination; but when they have complied with
| all the requirements and standards Of scholar.
| ship. they have received a certificate In place o.
| the degree Last year there was an organized
| campaign at each university on behalf OF wom-
! EMS rights, but with the forces of clerical con.
| servatism massed against it the movement was
| defeated after two well-fought battles. The
! minority was so large at each university that
| the speedy renewal OF the struggle for womens
| rights was inevitable.
| At Cambridge the controversy has seen re-
| opened this week by the report OF what Is known
as the Degrees for Women syndicate Nine out
| Of thirteen members OF this representative COM
mission have recommended to the University
| concessions. which, if adopted by the governing
| bodv of graduates will cradle women 70 obtain
| degrees While it is not proposed that women
| shall he admitted TO membership in the Uni.
versity. nor receive any voice in its government
| If is urged that those who pass ar examination
| for final honor; after remaining in residence Tor
| nine terms shall have the degree Of Bachelor
| NJ Arts conferred upon them by diplomat ana,
! Furthermore. that after six years from the end
of tho first term they shall be allowed to proceed
| IN the degree of Master of Arts. The propose1
concession is a restricted one but IT VIII orlnS
| tho coveted degrees within the reach or women
T, sanctioned by the University, IL VIII enaos
I women who pass the final examinations for hon.
ors 10 write "B A." after their names. ana 10
| due time M A." as well. The degrees VIII IN
deed moan more for one sex than for the other.
| because women will be compelled under thess
| raeuIatiors 10 be examined for honors, whereas
men are allowed what are known as pass Ok
| poll degrees.
NOT THE END OF THE AGITATION.
| The minority of four in dissenting from tns
recommendations of the majority OF the Synoi'
| cate give warning that the concessions VIII n'
| put an end TO the agitation for womens rghu
| at the universities. Womea, 1t is urged VIII
| not be satisfied with the degrees for when 'hey
have been clamorng ever since they were de
| lowed TO study at university founded for the
| education Of men, They will complain oil tner
| disabilities in not being allowed to vote on equ@
| terms with men. They will be fair Uulande"
| among illiberal academic Beers, ana VIII rase
fresh outcries against the injustice of their dis'
| reimbursement. This argument has been oHerea
| many times at previous stages or the same Gun
troversy and il is supported by the famlilar PIE
that women ought to have universities and de'
| grees of their own and not be allowed 10 swarm
| in increasing numbers at the historic centres "
| higher education for men. There VIII he p"
| longed and bitter contest at Cambridge o'@
| the question this year; but unless all signs IAN
| the recommendations of the Syndicate VIII "
| adopted and women will be allowed to take inc
degrees to which they are entitled by eXamiha''oa
| and residence This f. the contention OF brosa
| minded Cambridge men like Mr.. Arthur DaF
| four and since ii is based upon reason and lur
| tice it is likely TO prevail. When Catholus'
moves In the right direction oxford, with !"
more stagnant conservatism, Will surely io"o".
| This victory. if it be achieved will be one
| the most significant commemorative acts VI wv
| Queens Year for it will give great I'LL u :"
| higher education OF women. IL VIII 'nip'"
| equality of rewards for the sexes, ana VIII GU
| able women to obtain at the universities mo'
thorough training and better proportional eu
| cation than they now receive Since iaoi".~
have been provided at universities for the he"s
! education of women, the standards or preps,.
tory schools for girls have been raised ana y"
| Importance Of advanced courses mas oee' '
phaszed The triumphs Of Miss Fa"ee' o..
| Miss Ramsay have melted emulation anu 49,,
| q woman does not have the credit OF beating ~
Senior Wrangler every year. all schools for gu.
have felt the invigorating and stimuIa'"e
fects OF direct competition with men IN h'sa~
education These effects will be greatly ~
oreased when women at the chief univers'ue.
after qualifying themselves for examna''0'I,
| on,a,r fu,, recognition of their success on ea'-
| terms with men. N, a.
| r.o o.or,,r, NJ degrees to women VIII :"