Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-06
WILL TALK IT OVER.
COLLEGE, TRUSTEES TO CONSIDER
LIMITED CoEDUcATIoN.
TEE ARGUMENT OF DR.. GARLICK.
lie VIII Submit Expressions from
Prominent Educators I'm support
of His ResoIutIon-Action of the
General Association.
General Association.

The trustees of Richmond College Will
meet in the parlors of the First Baptist
church on Tuesday next, at noon, In semi
annual session. The meeting will be n
very important one. questions OF vital
significance to the colleges life and USE
fitness will be brought forward and dis
cussed, and it is expected that there will
be full attendance.
Dr. Charles II. Ryland, secretary and
treasurer of the college, in the notices
Sent out OF the meeting. calls attention
especially to two matters which will
come up at this time. One is the cleo
ton of a Professor Of Greek, and the
other the resolution offered by Rev. DR..
j. r. Garllck at the annual meeting In
June last. providing that the Committee
on Instructions be directed, IL they find
it expedient. to arrange for the opening
of classes in the college to the matricu-
latlon Of women. There may also be a
report from the committee appointed to
look into the advisability Of uniting the
Womans College and Richmond College.
THE COEDUCATION QUESTION.
At the annual meeting OF the college
trustees, held last June, after much
thought, DR.. Garlick, Of the Committee
on Instruction, offered a resolution look
ing to the matriculation of women to GER
tain classes at the college. The reso-
luton, while very plain, seems to have
been misconstrued in some quarters. DR..
Garlick says the plan proposed by him
does not contemplate that all girls rea-
sonably advanced shall be allowed to at
tend the classes OF the college, but his
idea is that those who seek higher educa-
ton than can be obtained in the female
schools Of the State, and who now have
to go to institutions outside Of Virginia,
should be admitted to the college, The
resolution offered by him provides that
no girl shall be admitted to classes in
the college below the intermediate, and
that the Committee on instruction fix all
the limitations as to age and attain
ments. No action was taken at the
time the resolution was offered further
than TO invite DR.. Garlick to prepare a
statement embracing his arguments in
behalf of the change. This he has done.
GIVES THE VIEWS OF OTHERS.
In his statement. DR.. Garlick quotes the
views Of a number of prominent edu-
Gators on the subject. He says:
Being anxious that the object set forth
in the resolution should be accomplished,
l sought an interview with Hon. w. T..
Harris, LII. D., United States Commits
sioner of Education, during his visit 10
Richmond about a year ago. He ex-
pressed great interest in the subject, and
invited me TO write TO him. He subse-
quently sent me various reports from in
stitutions OF learning in all parts Of the
country, from which l select a few state
ments. In 1892 two thirds Of all the coli
legeS and universities in the United States
had opened their doors to women. Now,
probably more than three fourths
j. q. Schurman, president of Cornell
University, reports: II. The percentage
Of women is 10 10 10; 2 The efficiency or
the schools has not been damaged by the
admission of women; 3. We know Of no
moral evil that has resulted from their
presence; on the contrary, IT is generally
believed they have exerted a harmonizing
and refining influence: 4. IL would seem
that the grade Of scholarship among the
Young women of the university is higher
than thar of the young men"
Professor Payne. of Michigan. an edu-
Gator Of twenty-five years experience,
says: "One of the strongest arguments
IN favor Of co-educatiOn as a practical |
system is its wholesome moral influence |
Young men are more manly: young Wo- |
vince me that the average quality of work i
done by young women is higher than that |
done by young men"
President W p Harper. Of CHICAGO |
University, says: 1.-THE presence Of women |
tends 10 raise the standard OF scholarship /
in an institution, rather than lower IL. /
This is a fact acknowledged by all our
instructors. | have yet TO know OF an |
institution Of learning. in which coeduca-
ton has been tried in which there is |
disposition to give it up"
Messrs. John Il. Massey, w. +. Fox,
j. p. Thomas, and other leading school
selves as earnestly hoping for the adop-
ton OF the measure by Richmond Col
lege.
MONTAGUE AND MANLY.
The testimony Of Andrew Philip Monta-
que LII. D., late dean of the faculty or
Columbian University, now president or
thurman University, is of special interest.
| knew that DR. Montague had been in
tcnsely opposed 10 the admission OF wO-
men into Columbian University, there
fore, desired TO get his views after the
experiment had been tried some years.
He says: "Coeducation gives 10 the college
in which IL exists better order and greater
refinement. There can be no question as
To tnls me question OF dlsclpune scarcely
ever arises. Young men are far more
quiet, more gentle. Secondly, young
women are better students than young
men, and the standard of the college IS
fdlSeu uecluely, young men studying |
more, that they may not be left I'm the
rear. Many men have written articles TOP
journals and newspapers arguing that
women are superior in languages, men in
science. The theory is pretty. but the
practical side is that young women are
just as strong in one department as the
other, and that men have to work hard
10 keep with them in both lines OF INTEL
lectual activity. SO much for the general
question as IL affects the institution. For
the girls IL is intellectually q grand
thing" This is the testimony Of a great
scholar and educator, who at first could
see no good in the proposed innovation.
Learning that Furman University had
opened its doors TO women, / wrote 10
DR.. Charles Manly, the president, for in
formation. His reply presents just what
IS proposed to be done at Richmond COL
ege. DR.. Manly says: I'm 1898 two young
women, who had pursued courses or
study in female schools-one here and the
other at Hollins-were at their earnest
request, received into our classes. They
nave both graduated--one as Il. S., in 1888:
The other as A. NJ, in 1896 Each year
since 1893 we have had some students who |
we're women. We have two this year QSyD
m regular classes, and two who are at
lending some special studies, and they
nave all done well. We do not encourage
my TO enter who are not mature in years
md character, and sufficiently prepared
Dy previous study TO profit by work IN |
,ur college classes, and these mainly or
advanced work. We have never expected
hat there will be many such students,
)ut there are few women who wish 10
AIRY their education to a point not pro- |
'ided for in any school In our State (or
n the South, and 1t is for such that We
nave thought proper TO make provision.
several who have applied, too young or
90 little advanced, have not been re-