New-York tribune., 1900-09-12
Co-EDUCATIoEAL COLLEGES.
Lillian wYCKoFF JOHNSON HAS SOME
THING INTERESTING TO SAY RELATIVE
TO THE TRAINING OF WOMEN.
To the Editor OF The Tr,buue.

To the Editor OF The Tribune
SIT: nave read with much interest and some
surprise the discussion on co-education in your
journal AS student and teacher. who has had
somewhat Intimate connection with Wellesley
and Vassar the University of Michigan and Cor
nell, may enter the lists?
But are not your contributors discussing q prob
lem which is already settled? President Schurman
OF Cornell University remarked. why should
DISCUSS co-educaton? It is settled; the women are
here to stay" Do the advocates of co-education
wish to abolish the separate college? Are Weles-
ley Vassar and Smith to be opened to men?
AFTER all is Il not question OF the individual
and not OF the system? May It not be true IN
education also that what is one mans meat is
another's poison? Do we not need separate col
lege as well as the co-educatonaI? A professor in
one OF our large universities in discussing this
question. said; Il find must have separate classes
for the men and women. You know c.? mention
ing one of the brightest young men in his depart
menO Well, he stupid and silent could
be when I had MIN with the girls. I could set
nothing out Of him. When I questioned him he
replied; Professor I have always been beaten by
the girls. have always been school with
them, and they much quicker than I am %
Is there not subtle but very serious danger here?
Can we afford TO have young men lose the self
confidence, the belief in their powers, which
mas made the Anglo-Saxon race the leader in the
march Of civilization? Is there not an equal dan
ger from the girl who, maturing more rapidly
coming earlier into the full use OF her powers may
develop seIf-conceit through undertaking the
slower but stronger powers Of the boy? The tnsti-
tuition was made for the individual, and as co-edU-
cation has come TO stay. as surely shall we al
ways find need for the separate college for men
and women alike. The wise parent and teacher will
study the boy and girl, and choose accordingly.
But even with co-education here to stay, have
solved the problem Of women's education2 We
have given our girls the opportunity to ft them
selves for any and all the learned professions.
giving them the opportunity to fit them
e0r ~Iaf- IL
fession-that of homemakng? ASK the college
graduate who IS homenaker her opinion OF the
problem ably discussed IN your paper by Eliza
beth Cady Stanton, and I think her almost IN
variable reply would be that while her college edu-
cation was of inestimable value to her. she yet
feels a lack Why somewhere in her career.
she not trained in the science and art OF home
making?
The idea that college education should prepare
one 70 I'LL ali places is being rapidly abandoned
IN the 9dISa9n Of men Our Gu dg HIysgses are being o
may make nor only law medicine and teaching
but also diplomacy, commerce engineering, agri-
genIng he broa5er t5noyrIedss ara c'II+'Ira he viii
at the end Of his course be qualified to enter upon
While the education Of men is thus becoming
more and more technical and is made TO bear
adTeGty upon PEotessIonai Ire and business SHE tne
academic Has not the time come when we should
not Wish to enter the learned profeszons may be
fitted for the profession which the majority Of
this the most difficult of all professions, because
the knowledge and training needed is so varied
and yet o scientific.
We do not wish Ito circumscrtbe' any woman
within the profession Of homemaktng. Qs not that
issue also settIedN But not only the women who
DO not enter the professions or business life, but
also hundreds OF those who do, are homemakers,
and where can a to-day combine the study
OF languages mathematics literature, history, etc.
with the central idea of the profession Of home
making. man can combine these studies with
civil and mechanical engineering in many OF our
universities? Why teach chemistry applied TO
the properties and preparation OF foods as well as
physics to the problems Of engineering? Why not
teach psychology applied 10 the problems OF
child training. well as botany TO those OF agri-
culture?
There are some OF US who are waiting i'm
patiently for that farseeing, deep pursed man or
woman who viii recognize that the need Of the
twentieth century is college where women who
have chosen the profession Of homeu1aktng may be
trained in the sciences and arts which are essential
10 Il. Yours truly,
LILLIAN WYCK0FF JOHNSON.
Cornell University, Ithaca. n Y Sept 4 1900