Evening star., 1915-12-29

ed to order by Mrs. William Cumming
Story at 1890 o'clock this morning in
Memorial Continental Hall.
The educational problems with which
women are confronted were discussed.
Miss Sophonisba Breckenridge. assist
ant dean of women Of Chicago Uni
versity. spoke extemporaneously on
several of the points brought up by
the speakers.
A rumor was current in the hall that
the suffrage element Of the conference,
reported to be greatly in the majority,
is not pleased with the determination
OF those In charge to keep the question
Of suffrage from entering into the pro-
ceedings, and that a determined effort
have the conference put itself on rec
ord as to its attitude toward the ques-
tion of votes for women. This rumor
was emphatically discredited by one in
high authority in the affairs Of the
conference.
Another Report Denied.
Denial also was made Of the report
that definite action has been taken
toward the erection of a marble home
for a pan-American union of women.
1t was stated on high authority. how
ever, that such action is contemplated
anu Will DC brought lOEWdTu ~ SouiS
future session of the conference.
Announcement was made at the ses-
sion this morning Of the fact that the
diet kitchens Of the District will give
demonstrations of practical methods Of
infant and child welfare work during
the course of the conference to those
members of the congress who may be
interested in this field Of human bet
lterment.
In spite Of the inclemency Of the
weather this mornings session was
largely attended, not only by delegates
most prominent women in the National
Capital.
Education Of Women in South.
Speaking on "The Changing Empfa-
sis in the Education of Women in the
Southern United States" Miss Eliza
beth Cotton, who opened the program,
said in part:
During the nineteenth century our
colleges of the southern United States
provided ornamental rather than
cialized' in music. art. literature, his
tory and elocution. Though graduates
received a nominal A. B. degree. they
often found later that their training
man work in the northern colleges.
Experience in the school of life how
ever, sometimes developed a high de-
gree Of efficiency in directing home af-
fairs.
still of the finishing school type. the
past ten or twelve years have shown
a new development in the education
of women. Vocational training and
domestic science have been introduced.
Men approve of this higher education
of women, teaching them scientific
cooking, sewing and household man
agement. Consequently. four of our
six standard colleges for women
have introduced this new higher
also for several years have en-
phasized training in industrial and
household arts. and co-educational
state universities have added home
economics. The women also ap-
prove, as shown by increasing num-
bers of students.
The Growth Since 1900.
I'm 1900 there were not quite 500
women in all southern universities and
co-educational colleges. Only one
southern university then offered cook
ing and sewing. Now all, except one.
provide courses in home training. and
there are 5000 women students. though
not all are ma1oring in home eco
nomics The only danger at present Is
overemphasis Of vocational training to
the detriment of the liberal arts tesch-
| ing"
The course Of development Of educa-
| tional advantages for women was
traced by Mrs. Herman Collitz in an
address on The Higher Education of
| Women" Mrs. Collitz said:
Opinions are still divided as to CO.
| education, but there Is no longer any
question Of the wisdom Of giving wom-
en- the best chances for intellectual
I'm the United States Harvard. CO.
lumbia, Tulane and other universities
maintain separate colleges for women.
Independent foundations. like Vassar.
Smith, wellesley. Bryn Mawr and
it is difficult to say which organization
| is better. In the western universities.
as Michigan. Wisconsin,. Illinois. Cali
| fornia and others. women are admitted
equally with men.
"In England, before Queen Victoria
ns37), there was no systematic educa-
ton for women Queens College, London.
first opened its doors to women in 1S4S.
The results Of this movement are now
shown in more than seven worhan's COL
leEes in England. Edinburgh. Glasgow,
Aberdeen and St Andrews universities
| In Scotland were opened to women in the
eighties. At Glasgow. in 1908. fifty women
and hfty-nine men were admitted to the
Nj.
Dublin was the first in Ireland to admit
women to its degrees, late in the eighties
Oxford and Cambridge still deny degrees
to women they give a certificate instead.
Swiss Universities Opened.
| "In Switzerland women were admitted
/ in 1872 to the University of Zurich, and
| in Geneva and Bern somewhat later.
Much later the German universities
were opened to women. though foreign
women, from England and the United
States. had previously attended lectures
and taken the doctorate degree Since
1905, however. German women students
have the same rights as men students.
Conditions in Austria are similar to those
VI Germany.
| "In the Netherlands womans higher
education has made progress in recent
years. In Denmark. Norway and
sweden there are six universities, four
| Of them being in Sweden, and all ad-
nit women equally with men.
1 Liza .-~-iA-a ~.