The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-02-18
viii entitle himself to tn. thanks of this
SEX IN THE SCHOOLS.

E
For some time past the question OF
the co-education of the sexes has been
under consideration by the educators or
Chicago. The drift Of opinion seems to
be in the direction of the separation Of
boys and girls in the schools. at least
after they have reached certain age.
The principle of co-education has been
in universal operation among us since
the establishment OF our public school
system. 1t was a great innovation In IT.
self on the practice of every country
grades of the schools of any country
was 1t thought advisable to maintain
common schools for the representatives
of both sexes In the Catholic system
of education separation has been an ac-
copied principle which has never been
deviated from anywhere or at any time.
There are no well defined evil results
to which anyone can point as springine
from the system Of co-education. Ono
of the leaders Of the separate school
system has been quoted as saying: THE
inherited traits and home training or
many Of the boys in our cosmopolitan
schools are not such as to make them
desirable companions for girls. The Ian
guage you may hear on any of our
streets from boys bears this out. II this
is the sum of the Indictment against
the system Of co-education, 1t is not to
be regarded with over-much gravity.
There are boys and boys, and the lam
guage of the street is by no means the
language of the school room. Occasion.
ally 1t Is made to appear that trouble
arises where the pupils are advanced in
years and where the school discipline Is
not as strict as 1t might be, but such
cases. are SO rare. and there is so little
to authenticate such statements that they
may be safely dismissed.
1t may be safely said that IL there wers
any particular occasion for the move
ment which has been inaugurated In
Chicago the public would long since have
learned of 1t from professional educators.
The atmosphere Of any well conducted
class room is hostile to badness in any
form, whetherseof language orsconduct.=
The native independence and freedom OF
the American girl goes in itself long
way toward negativing any thought that
the system operates otherwise than adj
vantageously. Since the establishment
of more general participation by
young women In the affairs of life, and
their general introduction into business
houses, it is generally conceded that the
manners of speech and conduct Of young
Improvement Any self-respecting girl
must exercise an elevating and refining
influence on those around her. And she
Invariably does. The thoughtlessness OF
youth must of course be taken into &C
count, and the wives and mothers of tho
present generation of Americans who
lie schools are perfectly qualified to pass
upon the question whether the modesty
or, gentleness of their daughters is in
any way endangered by their school as
ISOLATION with boys or young men
Not even the warmest advocate of the
system of co-education will say word
against the practice Of separating young
people Of different sexes in the schools
The practice has It's decided advantages.
These advantages are many and easily
specified. The tendency of the system
no doubt is to preserve among girls the
reserve and modesty, especially In their
relations with the members Of the other
sex, which so many declare to be alto
gether too rare among girls who get
their daily education side by side with
their boy friends. Just how serious an
advantage this is will be viewed differ
emily by different persons. With social
conditions prevailing essentially different
from those which distinguish Amer
lean life, no doubt the advantage Is clear
and well defined. But it Is not one in
llSelI WHICH Snould olcta1e the terminus
ton of a policy which has thus far not
been found to be followed by any definite
injurious results either upon the boys or
the girls.
AS long as it is not possible to point
to any decisive disadvantage to either
boys or girls arising from mixed educa-
ton, the proposed change is not likely
to commend itself for adoption to Amert-
can parents or school authorities. 1t Is
doubtful, indeed. whether, under all the
circumstances known to distinguish tho
relations Of the sexes in the public schools
of America, public sentiment is ever like
ly to concur In the proposed change :
HnUSINC THE pEnDrE