New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-12-21
SCHOOL GIRLS QUESTIONED
THEIR ANSWERS TO THE QUERY,
WHICH WOULD YOU RATHER Be
NAN OR A WOMAN
AND WHY

So much attention attracted by the answers
70 the series Of questions propounded to children
n the English schools last year that an attempt
was made in Germany early in the present year to
secure similar data for child study The result
vas not nearly satisfactory point Of fitness in
Germany as IN England. only 1ss sets Of answers
being received. whereas there were 500 from Eng
lish children
The questions were only in the German ex-
pertinent, and vera:
Which would you rather be, man or a woman
What man or woman OF whom you have heard or
read would you most wish 10 be-and why?
A significant illustration of the German attitude
toward woman is found in the fact that many
teachers-German teachers are nearly always men,
IS Trey frankly assert that women not capa bic
q teaching-would not allow the girls TO answer
the first question. the ground that such specu-
laton would have e tendency 10 unsettIe the purely
feminine IDEAL To incuIcate this ideal, which is
wholly domestic, is the constant aim in all school
Instruction for girls.
About half Of the girls were allowed 10 answer
the question. and Of that proportion nearly one
half answered in effect. that there was no need OF
discussion as they would, Of course prefer to he
what Providence had made them. In the case Of
those who really answered the query there was 8
marvellous revelation OF deep sense Of family
duty. showing how thorough the discipline on that
point has been. The German girl seems TO have
wholly neglected the sense of individuality while
nv 11IlsLien slfI 0lSplayed almost American
Independence Of thought and aspiration A large
proportion OF the latter showed = frank rer,ol-
against the narrowness Of the average wornan's
life, and wished TO be men. in order 10 enioy, =
mans freedom and opportunity for achievement
those who were glad TO be women were Influenced
Principally by the consideration that women can
40 great deal Of good in the world" The Ger
man girls, on the contrary, uttered prettv Mari
tudes Of family duty. 7 prefer to be q woman
because 1t is high privilege 10 work for ones
husband and children" said one. Another an
sWered: 1t peases me best TO be q woman he
cause II Is noble duty for q woman TO stay AZ
nome and be good wife and mother SIN
another thinks: a woman's life is beautiful he
cause she can make her husband and children
happy
IN few instances the little German maids were
Elsd 70 Be women, because women do not b.,-a
= Dc soldiers and because the DO no, no 2 "a ve
,soe ne CANCERS Of the world and work to earn
olt f me entire fBT. st Of girls papers there was
Il their answers "a Tba ss.a De Z man;
SsTrlan g-is showed the same faithfulness to con
wrote 7 should wish 70 be the good o tlrle maid
&c 10 the poor, piOus and God fea ring patient
sho submissive ana had courage in time Of war
oecauss she vas model for all German women =
~ ~ tairc wanted 70 be as mild amiabe. gentle
S eT PaTle9J as good Queen Louise and 10 be ike
ulrg, Tor she was gentle. obedient noble and pous
Lpl one OF these German girls expressed If rhev
a. men any aspirations toward d intellectual
-. re nearest approach 10 such insubordfnate
-.-thtnJ being desire 10 be like Frau Rat. the
l5l- ~ Goethe, because she clever nd witty
-. eaihlred by many great people. She was a
-. housewife and mother, gentle industrious and
s-441passlonste 70 the poor, and rewarded BY
Ing the mother Of the greatest Of German
Psets The English girls heroiues were Of n
c-IL-felt type Patti. Mrs Browning, Ellen Terry
srece Darling, Florence Nightingale and the Queen
- ne women they wished 10 resemble-wonlen
lame force and action.
There was less striking difference between the
80 ~ the two nations. Two boys answered the
- question by wishing they women,
.t-ause they love better than 2 man; the
~ because she Is ideal than a man
10y Aad patriotic ideas and wished 10 be great
80 sE OF statesmen The FaTherland seemed n
- me place in their thoughts that their sisters
$3.50 % husband and children" In some. the
4o-aI Was the ideal. and they wished 10 be poets
:. philosophers. Some had materiaIistic
Hss-ilos and wished be men, because
~ more use and industrious than women"
ne sentimental youth wished 10 be be
use q man may fall in love and get married
1i.Jlhef wished 10 be a man. because want 10
- married and Z l were a married woman
l',liu have no free will II ] were a woman
&c &c never marry One noticeable difference be
~7sh The two nauOnalities the fact that
.eIeas the English boy or girl was often humor-
- aho seldom sentimental. the German Of either
~ was never humorous, but often sentimental