Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-07-18
Copyright. by Joseph b. Bowles)

Miss Sadie American has won wide
reputation through her connection with
member Of the international Council OF
Women and Of the National Council OF
Jewish Women she has taken a promi-
nent part In the proceedings OF those IN
nuential organizations. Though now a
resident OF New York. some of her most
valuable and lasting work has been done
In Chicago. where she was largely instru-
mental in establishing the system OF va.
cation schools. Her work for municipal
Fairgrounds for children also put il mo-
tion . movement which has had excel
lent results. Miss Americans persistent
efforts along these lines were due TO her
knowledge OF the needs of the congested
terests of poor women and to gain light
on the grave problem OF juvenile delin-
QuencyD
'"- With the onrolling tide Of civiliza-
ton woman finds herself -arried into
positions of responsibility and action
she has not before occupied. OF the
swelling waves none has risen higher
than that OF education, on whose crest
she finds herself
Looking back she finds-what? From
time immemorial woman has been
treated as a possession, a toy. She
has been educated. when educated at
all, to the end that she may please
men. Education" says Nicholas Muir
ray Butler, lis the adaptation to en-
vironment and the development Of
power to modify environment" In the
sense Of the first half of the definition
woman has been adapted
to the environment"-dom by
the will and the wishes of man. AS
she has risen to heights Of clearer
vision or nobler ideas to which she
has.responded her education has been
modified and broadened until to-day
we see the second half of the defini-
ton being carried into effect and wo-
mans education following along lines
and in ways tending to develop power
Ito modify environment"
Individual men there have been al
place woman should have in educa-
ton. but until their cumulative influ-
ence was felt their ideals could not
be realized nor could their ideas be
. carried into effect. So have there been
women always who. rising above their
environment by individual effort. have
gained for themselves and sometimes
for others a broader education than
was the rule Of their day, and have
!disproved the contention that its ef-
feet was evil But they have scarcely
affected or accelerated the movement
OF education or had part or place In
1t until within the century Just past.
1t is. after all, in our own century
and in our own country that our inter
est centers. not only because it is
closest to US, but because so rapid has
been the advance made therein that
the foregoing centuries seem much
farther away than the actual passage
Of years warrants their appearing.
Woman's part and place in educa-
ton naturally divides itself into three
-hnes-those Of pupil. teacher and mo-
Their interested in the welfare Of her
children or Influenced by that feeling
Of the mother spirit which, though per
chance denied the joys Of motherhood,
must needs take up its duties.
Toward the end Of the tenth century
came the awakening Of woman with
the awakening Of mankind to greater
possibilities in and for men than had
been dreamed OF before. 1t was the
individual who was being considered,
the individual and his right, not the
individual and his duties.
Lady Mary MortIey Montague
wrote: We are permitted no books
A.,& 20 hn Eon In
and efreminating of our minds" And
our own Abigail Adams says. In one Of
her letters: 1T is fashionable to ridi-
cule female learning" Both instan-
cling the new attitude Of dissatisfac-
ton with existing conditions. The very
use Of the word female" is itself an
Indication Of the attitude toward the
education OF women. I: was female"
Is opposed to male female educa
ton. female learning. female schools
always the sex difference uppermost
In mind.
II was well into the second half Of
the nineteenth century before the wo
man replaced the female and, unhap
pily. wrote herself with q capital W.
Perhaps Il vas necessary then-it -
no longer so-and to-day. II We read
the times Alright We may see the
signs Of o healthy reaction toward .
world Of men and women spelled with
equal letters.
In the establishment Of the common
schools the thought % our fathers vas
tia; the boys might learn TO read 81
BILE. ballot and blue lsws-the making
Of men was not the schools concern,
nor was there need that u should BE-.
for IN the days when men were con.
ouering the soil and subduing Wild
nature to their needs life itself was q
nper schooling than any which books
could give. IL was the time for deeds,
not words-the time when all were
compelled TO lead the strenuous life