Omaha daily bee., 1910-09-12
HIGHER EDUCATION FOR WOMEN
Plea for Co-Op~ratfou Of Parent
Pupil and school.

FAnAA Ahu 1RHnnAs
Some general principles are formulated
in the North American Review BY Marion
Talbot dean Of women at the Chicago uni
versity. 90 secure a better understanding
between the three factors in the education
N womeu-parsnrs. pupil ard school. She
discusses the problems that confront the
educated ari or the one acquiring educa-
uun. whose parents have no sympathy with
her aspirations or requirements and EN-
phasizes tie need of Intelligent corporation
between colleges authorities and women
students 70 obtain the best rssuitA she
pieads for a strengthening rather than
weakening Of the family tie result OF
higher education. After giving a number "
examples to show me restraints tnat yet
rest heavily upon collsEs women because
Of social OF parental ideas. she writes;
Many other cases might DO cited. Each
would seem TO have its individual aspects
and be a problem BY Itself. nesting It's own
peculiar solution. unless one we're content
10 generaIize to the extent OF saying that
IL the principle OF filial obsdience or dial
reverence or filiai affection were given its
proper recognition mad applied regardless
OF all other considerations. no problem
all would exist But no one 10 able 70 take
SO extreme a view Al the present time and,
indeed. il is not necessary. There Is one
factor that Is common 70 all the cases. and
that is the ignorant parent, for. after all.
seIfishness in these cases NAV be explained
as the result of ignorance. And the solution
rests with the elimination OF ignorance on
the part OF the parent
1T is lust here that a mistaken policy
on the part Of those responsible for the
methods Of the school has too often pre-
I r~.ft aE . fa fr=fa m zug- the aeh0pl
and the family do nus cooperate with suf-
ncient sympathy and intelligence. and yet
the effort is not always made. How often
one hears such remarks az II only did
not have TO bother with the parents We
could accomplish something. or II only
there weren't a father and mother some
ching could be made OF the child But GER
tainly when IL comes TO students ~ college,
age the great wonder OF those engaged in
} administrative work Is that In most cases
there is no chance 20 deal with the parents
AT all except in most superficial and gen
4Tai matters. The absolute confidence with
which the average parent turns over hts
/ ehiId to a college Is startling. When a
plizziins case demands the special attention
y Of college officer he often longs To have
1 the Interest n not the wisdom NJ the par
ents. A knowledge OF home conditions and
traditions would throw light in dark places,
and yet 4 is often impossible 70 make the
connection with the parent There ars in
general two reasons for this. n is a strik-
ing fact familiar 20 those engaged in the
collegiate movemtnt that very large num-
Der II college girls are daughters OF parents
VINO have had very limited education OF a
formal character They look upon the cul-
leEe with awe ana regard the college Of
ficerz with reverence. They have back
/ ground OF experience 70 use IN bringing
I them into close and advisory relations with
their daughters and the new life. And OF
course. the lapse Of time simply means a
still smaller power 10 cooperate actively
in the new educational process.
"Other parents turn over their children TO
the college because OF Indifference or ab-
sorption in other interests. The result in all
OF these cases is likely to be thai which has
already been described. The parent is
quite at a loss to know what his child needs
and the process OF adjustment ID one Of
irritation and disappointment both sides.
There H. however no reason why an at
tempt should not be made BY the cox
ie<r authorities first 70 secure al least the
interest II not the Intelligent cooperation.
Of tie parents throughout rhe daughter :
career in college. and second 20 encourages
her 20 crafty her parents in any Interest
they may show In her activities even though
IL may not be Immediately helpful. and to
do all in her power 10 make them fest that
IN giving her the opportunities they
have a deep and vital concern in the out
cume. Every college officer feels a thrill
Of delight and a new sense OF his RESPONSE
hiiity after an interview with a parent
who. however timid and seif-deprsCiatorJ'
. r-ssusrnfEez thar IN zpite OF his educational
shortcomings he can by corporation wiz
the college authorities make a direct con-
lrlbution toward his daughter welfare