Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1911-04-21
HIGHER EDUCATION or d
WOMEN IN UNITED STATES.
Address to College Club by Principal
Henry A. Tirrsst--Annuai Meeting Of
Club.

At the Norwich club house on
Thursday afternoon Principal Henry
A. Tirrell gave an excellent address
on the higher education of women In
to with much interest by the members
Of the College club and their invited
guests from the wemen's clubs Of the
city.
Mr. Tirren was introduced by the
president of the College club, Miss
Mary A. c. Avery, who spoke of the
interest aroused In this subject by the
recent college event at New London.
Mr.. Tirrell gave logical and schUl-
arly discussion upon education for
women, taking the subject from all
points of view and treating it fairly
and impartially. He spoke Of the ex-
tremes Of conservatism and radical
ism, which are to be avoided in this
as we'll as in any other theory, with
their dangers arising from sudden
change or from possible failure of the
untried.
Like every other question. 1t must
work itself OUT gradually. If we define
education as the development OF the
best there Is in us, we include in this
the development of the intellect, the
emotions and the will, and also enough
bodily training to make these possible
There are two sides to this idea OF
educAtion--the limited statistical side
and the broarder meaning, which IL as
broad and long as life itself. For the
first, he gave figures showing that
there are today more women college
students than there were men students
of these are in the strictly women's
colleges, sixteen of which werede
scribed in detail, from Mt. Holyoke,
founded in 1927, to Simmons, in 1902.
Their establishment has been due 20
the efforts of women like Mary Lyon
True. there have always been educat-
ed women down through history, but
those preceding were exceptions. And
if we study the curriculum given the
so-called, talented women of Queen
Elizabeth's time we find that their
learning was very superficial and de-
signed only to give them an air of
smartness.
But the ~puritans took things seri-
ously. The public schools of Boston
were opened to women in 1890. Their
rush to the high school is a matter ct
history. Today the women's colleges
are on par with those of mem The
question now fl not, shall women. have
an .education2 but, what kind of an
educa ton. Shall it be the same as
that of man? =
liable in relation to society. She should
have all the rights that she will use
for the good of society. Her legal adj
vance has proved for this good and
so does her educational. As to the
curriculum, there are more d1versit1eS
in each sex than there are between the
two sexes. True, the average woman
may marry The average woman also
wears a number four shoe Does any
shoe dealer keep only number four
shoes? Should women be. trained for
marriage only any more than men: be
educated for husbands? What both
sexes need is moral training to fit
them for any station in life and there
lis no need of different studies for
women.
There is an emotional difference, but
this Is not gained from studies-rather
from outside associations and social
life. The tone Of college counts for
much in h womaf's education. Edu.
cation of the will is the same for both
men and women. Use strengthens and
high ideals help most in developing
the best type.
educational colleges have an adj
vantage of economy M = nAaAirai
mode of life and an impetus to excel,
affiliated colleges also possess econ
omy and other advantages; while the
wonen's colleges give greater execu-
tive and social possibilities and are
perhaps the best ali round ones for
women.
A college course is desirable for all
those who are able to get out Of it true
development. For others 1t is waste
of time They must gain the ideals
which are the colleges best gift--net
the artificial knowledge, which is
worse than nothing. Only those rights
are proper which are used for the
good of society.
A. social hour was enjoyed after MI.
TirrelPs paper and tea was served by
Mrs. John c. Averill, Mrs. Edward 8.
Worcester and Mrs. William H Oat
The annual meeting OF the College
club was held just before the -opea