The Washington times., 1905-10-29

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chology at Smith College. Mt. Holyoke,
declares emphatically thai if men and
women are fit TO marry they are fit tu
go to school together. She believes a
girls domestic training should not be-
gin until she not only knows she will
marry, but whom she will marry.
The superlstive fascination of the
married state,'' said Miss Gordon, "has
by recent writer's been a trifie overwork-
ed"
The views set forth by her are shared
by many heads of Washington colleges.
Others are firmly of the opinion that
TO bring men and women together in
the class room defeats the ends Of
education and takes away all oppor-
tunity for serious study, particularly
on the part OF the woman.
Prof. John Gordon, head of Howard
University. has had varied experiences
as director of colleges
Feminizing Feared.
MY knowledge of co-education. saws
DR.. Gordon, comes from five years ex
perience as the executive head of in
stitutions in which pupils were received
from both sexes. One of these institu-
tions was in Tabor College. Iowa. of
which 1 was president, and the other.
Howard University. There are many
notable advantages of co-education. Or
der in the classroom seems to be bet
ter and more easily maintained. The
presence of the opposite sex appears to
act as stimulus and to produce better
class work
Inc disadvantages to my mind all
hnost entirely cluster around the danger
OF Ieminizing the institution. While it
mas not yet become the case In the
East there Is very apparent tendency
IN the West. especially in the smaller
eoheges. TO draw so many women they
are beginning to outnumber the mon
Where this IS so, II can ONLY be ex-
pected that the instruction will ha Of
character to suit the needs OF the ma
Jorlty of the students. In sucb caeas
the majority being women the instruc-
tlon has in some instances become fe,ni-
nized- This is noticeable even In the
Faculties, as where there are so MANY
students IL is likely to happen that a
good many women are given places in
the faculty. The result where there
happens to be a preponderance of wo-
men is to feminine.
There is no question that young men
are In many ways benefited by the in
PRODUCTION of this feminine element into
the college life. Probable any dangers
arising from il could be guarded against
ana minimized. In the great universi-
ties where co-education is carried on
such as those of Michigan, Minnesota.
io"a ana Nebraska L am satisfied from
personal knowiedge this matter of fem
ininizing is the one which causes tbe
greatest solicitude. In other respects.
such as discipline. / do not think there
mas oeen any special difficulty found in
the administration of large educational
institutions In which are gathered to-
gether considerable number of men
and women.
In HowSrd University. we not only
nave young men and young women en-
gagged in the ordinary college branches
but I'm our professional schools. with |
the exception Of the theological depart- |
ment, we are educating young women |
for the various professions. In our |
medical, dental. pharmaoeutic and law
We always have young women |
and they have uniformly assured me |
they found it perfectly agreeable IN
every way 20 pursue their studies in the
same recitation rooms and laboratories
with men. The professors assure me
mat In these professional schools the
presence of the young women is an ad-
EantaSe. Consequently We feel that in
howard University the advantages |
greatly oTerhalance the disadvantages.
Dull Girls Frivolous.
The question OF co-educatIon
writes Anna II. Phillips. of the
Laise-Phiilips school. lis so old that
is revival by Miss Gordon seems
lutte unnecessary.
speaking, as | do, from the view
point Of boarding school principal.
whose school for girls and young
women is the outgrowth Of a private
lay school, admitting both sexes. and ,
iaFins been a teacher in the public
schools Of large citv. I could not be {
rue 70 the conviction which has
'iaced me In nv present position, did ,
not believe that the best results are ;
ttained in schools which admit but ;
me sex as pupils.
have found that the idea of hav- ,
ng young men and women recite to- !