The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-12-04
HIGHER EDUCATION OF WOMEN
IN FRANCE.

IN FRANCE.
The position of woman has undoubt-
eddy changed, and the sentiment to-
ward her has changed and If these
changes are as yet scarcely noticeable
beyond the educational circle, it Is be-
cause they arose there and are extend
ing, as it We're, unconsciouSly. Women
were appointed this summer on the
jury of awards; they participated free
ly in the congresses; they hanqueted
with their colleagues. There was no re-
straint on either side; no affectation on
the part of the women, no mawlSish
sentiment on the part of the men.
There was just that cordial fraterni-
zng that Americans love, with mel
low touch of old-word courtesy on
the juries the judgment of the women
weighed the same as that of the men;
in the congresses of education they
were as ready in debate; and their for
NAL papers showed grasp of subjects
which commanded attention and led to
fruitful discussion. At the general
banquet of all the educational juries
comprising eighty-three men and six
NbIIltli, INC iIllGL "ClI ttptS icl'I VfaNlit-
ed in the toasts by Mile. Dugard, a
well-known writer and professor. She
expressed in q felicitous manner the
spirit which the new education of wo-
man fosters, the spirit of loyalty to the
government and of international cour-
tesy-that courtesy which is itself one
of the inestimable outcomes of higher
education.
This cordial recognition of women,
this free interchange of ideas on a mat
ter of public interest is far removed
from the traditional notion of woman
which pervades French literature and
has given a peculiar tone to French So
ciety. Tt indicates even in the univer-
sity circle a great change since the
congresses Of 1889 On this point ! can
not speak from personal observation;
but it struck foreign delegates who had
the advantage of having assisted also
at the earlier conferences. In this
change mere surface ripple? The an
swer is not doubtful. The change has
come without violence to the inward
spirit of the people, and it accords with
a great world movement.
The efforts of the French republic in
this matter began with the training of
teachers for the public primary schools.
AS soon as the new government felt it
self secure, 1t passed law placing the
training of women teachers on the same
footing as that of men. This was in
1879. The age for admission to these
schools (sixteon-eighteen) the subjects,
and more particularly the method of in
method which puts the
mind upon reflection and comparison,
Justify the classification of these
schools as higher. They are not CLASH
cal, modern languages and science
forming their programmes; but in this
respect they differ little from the nom
courses In our high schools
and COLLEGES in which German or
French Is accepted as an equivalent for
Latin. Moreover, the training in these
normal schools is above all things ethi-
cal, because IL is Of first Importance
that the future teachers of the people
should have the habit Of considering all
even the most elementary
IN it's relation to the conduct of life and
to public duty. This was in the past,
and still remains, a very important
part also of our notion of the functions
If higher ducation.-Forum.