The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1908-01-01
WOMEN BALK AT
ELIOT'S IDEA OF
THEIR EDUCATION
Is Main Object, Says Harvard
Head, Should Be Henceforth
to Prepare Them For Their
"NormaI Occupation ''

to Prepare Them For Their
"NormaI Occupation i'
President Eliot's declaration to the
Collegiate Alumnas Association at
Cambridge that woman's education
should no longer "be a mere imita-
tion of that of the man." but should
have for its purpose to prepare her
for motherhood, has provoked al
ready discussion Of which Har-
wards president will not hear the last
for many a day. A diversity of
opinion was expressed by representa-
tive New York women, and some OF
them did not hesitate to take fiat is
sue with the noted educator whose
ideas clash with probably majority
of the 100000 women in America
who are engaged in some profession
besides raising babies. Speaking on
"The Future of the Educational
Movement for Women" DR.. Elio.
said
Womans Normal Occupation.
"Higher education in the future
should recognize the fact that the
majority of women take up the occu-
patton of training children, the mar
ried ones as mothers and many of the
unmarried ones in the interest of the
mothers.
Training of children is the nor
NAL occupation of woman, and its
Importance in education has proba-
bly, not been recognized because 1t
has hitherto been regarded as an un-
intellectual pursuit. Yet it is the
most intellectual occupation in the
world, in no matter what walk of life.
1t calls always for great moral and
carefully trained mental powers.
"What great power reading
mother has to train the minds of her
children? This normal occupation of
woman should be the main object
henceforth in the education of wom-
an, and no longer should her educa-
tion be mere imitation of that of
man. On such a basis I believe
higher education will truly perfect
the home life and household joy.
at is certainly not the chief end of
woman's life to enter mans occupa-
tions, as was intended when higher
education was advocated for her. 1t
is high time that tn It idea of an edu-
cation for her was abandoned, and
that the aim should be to develop in
woman the capacity and the powers
that fit her to make life fuller of
intellectual enjoyment and happi-
ness, more productive physically,
mentally and spiritually"
"I question whether the education
of man is yet sufficiently far ad-
vanced," said Mrs. John Sherwin
Crosby, President of the Women's
Democratic Club, "to qualify him to
decide upon the education that wom-
an should have. There is, of course,
broad fundamental education that
is just as necessary to develop the
powers of a woman as of man.
There is also little in regard to
the training of children that the man
as we'll as the woman ought not to
learn.
"If womankind we're restricted to
rearing and teaching children she
would be deprived of many of the
best opportunities for learning how
to do that very work. The greatest
idea in education, as in other things,
is freedom, and restriction placed
nnon tho aduoat;on of uop,op would
tend to render her less efficient in any
special service to which she may be
by nature adapted better than man."
Mans Duty, Too.
Mrs. Harriete M. Johnston Wood,
law partner of her husband, William
H. Wood, didn't have much patience
to spare for DR.. Eliot's views.
"True, the training of children al
ways has been woman's occupation"
said Mrs. Wood, land to the exclu-
sion of other things until her horizon
has narrowed and her mind has been
warped. Let the training of children
be her duty, but let it also be the
mans to do his share. Each should
assist If the proper balance is to be
given to the development of the child.
Any occupation exclusively for men
or for women is imperf cct. Mascu-
line and feminine must cooperate
eternally; each supplies the compile
ment to the other.
II should like to know" inter-
jected the woman counsellor with the
fire of lawyer driving home a
clinching argument "by what divine
authority certain occupations were
set aside for men and certain ones for
| women7 Everv occunation In the