The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-06

best educators Indianapolis ever had, but
the interest on the debt and the growing
popularity of the city schools, especially the
high schools, were too much for him, and
the school was abandoned. The house was
sold to Mr.. Pyle, one of the most popular
clearinghouse keepers in the city, to be
used as boarding house, but again the
interest on the mortgage, together with
OPPOSITION on the part of neighbors to hay-
Ing boarding house in that arristocratic
residence part of the city, and it's too great
distance from the business part Of the city
for boarders, proved too much for Mr.. Pyle
and he was glad to exchange it for the
property of the Methodist College on Ohio
street, the college assuming the mortgage
debt In the fall of 1865 the Indiana Female
College reopened in this building under the
presidency of Rev. w. H. De Motto with
f1attering prospects, as it was practically a
combination of the Methodist and Presby-
terrain forces. 1t was a success for a year
or two, but the growing popularity of the
city high school ultimately compelled it's
closing, and the stockholders transferred
the property to Asbury University on the
conditions, first, that it pay the debt, and
secondly, that 1t admit girls to the univer-
sity on the same terms boys. Later the
members of old Wesley Chapel bought the
property and built the present Meridian
street Church upon it.
MET THE SAME FATE.
Meanwhile the Baptists maintained a
high school, known as the Hughes High
School, at the northeast corner of Meridian
and Michigan streets. 1t, too had to sue
cumb to the growing popularity of the city
schools and be sold to the city for it's high
school, thus wiping out all distinctive
female schools, except one or two private
schools, which yet remain ali honor to the
city and to their proprietors. and the Cath
Ollie schools.
Our present excellent public schools are
modern history with which l do not pro-
pose to NEEDLE, further than to say that
the newcomer who imagnes that they
have grown TO their present rank without
encountering difficulties is much mistaken
Their growth has been amidst difficulties
from the beginning. In the beginning there
were many who opposed the 12-cent levy for
their maintenance, and who greatly re-
joiced when a narrow Supreme Court de-
cided that city could not tax itself for
the support of local schools, and not a few
contended that the higher education of the
high school was unconstitutional
1t Is not only pardonable but commenda-
able to be proud of our excellent schools,
notwithstanding they have fallen into the
deplorable fad of co-education, to the detri-
ment alike of each sex; neither receiving
the type OF education that Ii Is entitled to.
But IL has been unavoidable so far, and
the craze, like the measles must run its
course, and again like the measles, when
once well over. am sure that will be the
last of II. The growing popularity of the
several schools for girls now existing is I'M
m'stakable assurance that the crisis is past
and gradua. and sure return to the norm
al, coinmon-sense method OF teaching has
set in 1t has taken nearly a half century
to introduce co-education into our high
schools and colleges; In less than half that
time no wise parent will send his boy TO a
school that is toned up or down To meet
the wants or women, nor his daughter to a
college whose teachings are TO qualify
boys for the rough and tumble of robust
men. The All Father has decreed that the
respective battles of life are different and
distinct. hence the training for these bat
ties must recognize this fact or be abortive.
7. "A. GOODWIN.