The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-08-17
THE EDUCATION OF GIRLS.
A SUGGESTION~AN
A WORD OF CAUTION
Continued From Eighth Page.

IN a large degree, divert the great
good which this splendid movement
should produce.
For what purpose do we desire that
institutions for the higher education
of young women shall multiply and
flourish? Unless by the training there
received the mind is taught to work
in the best manner it can be made to
work; unless worthy views of life and
character are there most devotedly
inculcated; unless the moral nature
is SO trained and disciplined that right
motive and action are the result Of
worthy choice and a Well-disciplined
will, of what real value has been the
college experience to a girl?
1t is very evident to even the casual
observer that for a girl to go to
year the better class of high schools
and preparatory schools are sending
thousands of young women to the uni
versities and the colleges for women,
a large majority of whom are going
because they can have such a good
many of them, offer instruction in
about as broad a line Of studies, so
far as a general academic literary
course is concerned, as the best mems
colleges offer.
The number of young women seek
situations for higher education has
rapidly increased-in fact has exceed
ed in many instances the facilities pos
sessed by these institutions for doing
good work.
| Glasses are too large, instructors too
few, supervision too lax, freedom of
thought and action too often
unchallenged to admit Of i'm
mature girls securing either book
knowledge or general training Of
the kind best calculated to develop
strong mental power or character.
There seems to be too much seek
ling, on the part Of the student, for a
good time and a diploma with a de-
cree at the end of four years, to admit
of much serious study during that
1 period. The faculties of these insti-
tutions -deplore this fact and wish for
a different sentiment among students
in general toward scholarship and the
i higher ideals of life.
4 Each governing body of these
i .schools seeks, however, to meet the
/ demands of its students, In order that
4 the institution may have as good or
of it's kind. Strenuous efforts are
constantly made, everywhere, by the
alumnae of these colleges, to induce
would-be college students to attend
their alma mater, and Invariably two
of the strongest arguments offered are
|
!. ing their favorite college, and "the
J, good times it's students always have
/ This much is true, as can be proven
:. by any one taking the trouble to make
) the test, any school known to require
very strong work of its students, hold.
ing rigid1y to high standard o:
t conduct and scholarship for gradua
: ton. must suffer in popularity ane
5 patronage in comparison with institu
L tions of easier, less rigid and less ex
5 cellent methods, and will usually sue
: cumb to the situation sooner or later
Is If this is true, what can be don,
3 to raise the standard of scholarship
: and of living, that our girls may
. when school days are ended, be pos
r sessed of such minds and characters a
: shall enable them to meet in an ade
: quate manner life's sternest demands
d and to manifest such graces of WON
anhood as, after all is said and done
: every woman living needs most t
o possess.
4 May we not ask OF our schools from
/, the beginning of the academic or col
Z lege preparatory work, that fewe
d subjects shall be pursued than are no,
d required? That those which ar
= studied shall be we'll mastered i
order that power of concentration an