The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-01-17
Voice of the People
The Womnn,s Coilegc.

Slr.,-Indications point to u consider
aOie demand In the State for woman's
sympathize. Two plans have been
suggested. ono for coordinate col
iege In close connection with the uni
versity, the other for the expansion OF
inc Farmvillc Female Normal School
cor another OF the female normals)
so tar but little attention has been
uirccted TO the second plan, tho argu-
inents having been concentrated on the
advantages or disadvantages of the
:. nrst. ana In this heated Controversy
the merits OF the second are likely 10
pass unnoticed.
II seems TO me that the advocates of
the, coordinate college have failed to
aTr wn1m the proposed college is nced-
such su I cinss would seem TO be three
pubiie School Momep preparing to
or ade luate means, DESTROYS of a lib
IRA! education. 8. Poor women tnot
,eacheis) who must work for n living.
PIT who might he SO ambitious for ;,
h,Sher education as TO make any and
''it Ts sacr ,n!!, to attain IL
OF things. be relatively very small. For
mos; Of these girls would prefer an
tn ti riiminr TO literary or scientific
lattor would. for tl:c most part, soon
come to be ciasscd ns teachers.
rad Inus the :hree CLASSES practically
Iheso arc the women mainly to be-
com.siIeret in the organization and To-
f ianr or the Proposed woman's col
little doubt that the needs of the first
ciass-the cachers--should be regard
c ~ "s thr more important, not only be-
S S.o,.usG SO, they are less able without
H,nte ara to secure collegiate educa :
Ion, ion. pnt chiefly because the educa-
.iiat they be well-grounded in the
subjects they will be called upon 70
tt,nach' and that they diruse around
gYAl,
earning which Is such spur to the
ihe a dcvelopment of youth
70 me s problem would seem to be. then,
college as 10 be OF most servico To ~, .
women teachers Of the State while nor
u,isco'nraging the other classes above
a., fearing airing this In mind. submit that
inc tln wiser course is to build upon the
i ,,nirmvllie foundation. Not only would
teaching class OF women. but to the
state at large also.
II would be more beneficial to the
| teaVheTs because, In the first place the
COST OF living ut Farmville IFS lower
IMAM at Charlottesville.
III me second place. the Farmvillc
IuI ana enjoys great reputation and
pTestlSe amongst the thousands of wo-
I'LL smet, VINO nave been students there. and
snsaScs inc loyal support of its alum
nae, who would welcome with enthm
siuShi ms expansion of its usefulness.
ana would bring tremendous influence
10 bear TO make the college sue
cess. Ihls influence would induce many
preparing to be teachers TO take the
coliesc courses who might otherwise
| pass them by.
In the third place. there are now
nearly 100 students in attendance unon
tne farmyille school. Here is ready
,h TO hand a largo patronage Tor
the new college, II located there. MS
hShihst n patronage entirely to be
n t,nft
IN case the coordinate college plan
should carry.
In the fourth place, there has been
no suggestion. so far as / know, that
there be normal school in connection
WIN the coordinate college. The alb
S S OF such school would mean that
rev OF the teaching class could attend
the college under these conditions. Jt
~ one Of the great advantages OF
rarmVliie mat IL already possesses the
nnest woinan's normal school in the
state, and that with the addition Of
good classical, literary and scientific
unite the higher culture with their
professional work, and thus save per-
maps n year or more OF time and ex-
sion.
Furthermore. contend that a wo
, Tnu,, foiiese huiit upon the Farmville
to the State aflarge.
1T would in the first place, avoid all
Inc hangers to the university which
plan,-dangers which appear very real
and imminent TO the great majority Of
It's alumni and student body and TO
male and female. These ] shall not
here discuss! but IL may be we'll to
ask II il be wise to risk even remote
when the result desired may be at.
tanned equally we'll or better by the
adoption ion Of another plan?
! ! 81,
chiefly TO be benented--thc teachers
must nave normal school department.
the expense of the already existing
normal schools. And that IL would be
well attended seems. quite probable.
since a normal school, which also mr.
fords opportunity for general cduca-
ton. would be apt to be more popular
Than II 1t were 10 give only pro-
fcssional course.
But why should the State create a
new normal school, which, from it's
very nature must render less valuable
those already in existence? If this ia
TO be the effect of the woman's col
iege, why not utilize the most flourish
ing of the existing normals and save
the expense Of creating and operating
new one?
In the third place. I contend that it
pand the Farmville Institution. using
the present plant, equipment, adminis-
tration and service, adding only a few
pioieSSoIS ifu perhaps several lecture
halls ana laboratories than TO buy the
land and build from the ground the
entire coordinate college.
Even without q normal school at
tached, il is believed that II would
cost more to provide suitable build
ings. and equipment and an efficient
teaching staff for the proposed co-or.
dinate college than to build an equally
good woman's college upon the Farm
Vile foundation. But 1t must not he
forgotten, that frst-class normal
school VIII be n necessity If the teach
ers are TO be attracted to the college.
The best school OF that kind I'm the
State stands ready made at Farmyilie
wi, Win an atitendance Of nearly 700 of
attract. and supported by loyal and
enthusiastic thousands of alunnac
1T would cost much money and many
years of effort to create as efficient n
normal school at Charlottesville. And.
If successful, to what end?--to mako
less valuable the institution at Farm
vile. and possibly the university also,
Does not true wisdom dictate, on the
contrary, that the State leave the unit
vefsity as it is. and make more val
liable and efficient the Farmviiie
school? RALEIGH c. MINOR
University of Virginia,