The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-09-11
Coeducation and American Women.


The denial by Chancellor DAY of SYRIA
cuse University that he has assailed Co
education, or the association of boys
and girls in schools and colleges, on the
ground that it is provocative of immo-
rality, might have been expected. SYRIA
cuse University itself, college of Metho-
dist foundation, has both young men
and young women as students and is pro-
ceeding prosperously.
If there was ground for an allegation
that coeducation led to immortality or
to any other obvious and serious evil
peculiar to it, the system, 80 general in
America, more especially at the West
would have broken down long ago. The
Mosely Education Commission, which
came here to inspect our schools and
colleges, gave much attention to this
particular subject, but in the reports of
the members no such criticism of coedu-
cation was made. Its ACCESSIBILITY was
questioned, but only on the ground that
it's tendency is to "effeminize the men"
Prof. ARMSTRONG of London, for ex-
ample, expressed the opinion that whi!o
/, may be advisable to bring up the two
sexes together in the earlier years Of
school life, the association is open to
objection in later years, IF the object be
to develop a virile man. He thought
he observed "a strong, indefinable FEM
mime air coming over the men," Morally,
his information without exception was
that it is beneficial
The remarks of DIR. GRAY of Oxford
on the subject are interesting and sig
nifcant enough to be quoted at length
"The camardderfe between the sexes by the sys-
TEN OF cocducation Is on the whole. vastly benc-
ncial to the American boy and girl alike. and Is
largely corrective of Certainly In way Increases
the tinge OF eHcmnaey which the prepondcrance of
the woman teacher alluded to above is unhapp,iy
producing. There is an absolute absence Il might
well add disappearance OF sexual strain: I found
no trace of the awkwardness and shyncss between
the sexes which is consequence Of want OF Init
macy. and has a tendency to generate rather than
10 diminish such sexual strain, and which, existing
TO some extent in England, and accumulated In
France. leads In my judgment to artlnciality and
grave moral difnculues In the social system. I
never observed on any OccdsiOn Wnen j assumed
command OF the highest classes In American sec
ond NY schools where boys and girls were being
taught Latin or English together. a single indica-
uon O. O.. that when girl was called upon TO con-
strue or 10 answer. her utterances and her quasi.
public appearance before the class was the signal
for any amused recognition OF the fact between the
boys. On the contrary. the girl was regarded as
the classmate and nothing more; no trace OF senu.
mentaism was apparent"
Prof. RHYs of Oxford was inclined,
ION the whole to regard coeducation as
offering young men and women useful
opportunities Of sounding one another's
character and temper, and to believe that
= the comparatively few premature en-
gagements to which it may lead are far
more than counterbalanced by the num-
Der OF unwise marriages it prevents.
A writer in the Nineteenh Century
magazine deals with cognate subject
when be repeats an attempt he had made
in previous essay at a philosophic
analysis OF the causes Of a @lapsing' Of
the American woman from 'muliebrity'
which he processes he has discovered.
'The American woman has aimed the