Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-02-07

q college where the ambitious girl Of
limited means, who wishes TO work
her way. If 1T need be, may 10 so in
an atmosphere Of democracy conducive
70 her peace of mind and self-rcspect.
They are asking for n college where
I the girl IN moderate circumstances.
who. from natural aptitude. desires to
teach pupils of the adolesccnt age, may
receive adequate and appropriate train
ing. They are asking for a college
where the earncst-mindcd girl OF Nir-
GINA can receive the academic train
ing now so freely given the sons Of
Virginia, that. wherever she may go
or whatever phase of life she may
enter. she can prove most valuable
acquisition to the educational, eco
non!c and social welfare of her COM
munlty and her state. They believe
that the girls who will attend the kind
OF college for which they are asking
girls serious in purpose and clear in
v!sion-will set Il new. healthy ana
wholesome standard OF true simplicity
in the education OF this old Common
wealth.
They are asking that our women
teachers who attend the summer school
of the University of Virginia be given
the same opportunity of having the
credits obtained by them count towards
professional and academic degrees as is
given TO the men OF Virginia The
establishing OF a summer school at the
/ University or Virginia was a tremen-
dous blundcr If it was thought that
the women teachers of Virginia would
lie satisfied to 20 there year after year
without due recognition OF their eff
forts.
The summer school has become n
necessity IN the educational system OF
this state The State Department Of
Education requires that every teacher.
REGARDLESS of sex, must IN order to
renew his or her certificate, attend a
summer school within a certain num-
her or years. As 20 per cent OF the
high school teachers are women. Il is
Obvious that the number Of women
teachers In attendance would he great
~ Increased by such an act Of justice.
and the summer school would he put on
its mcttlc TO attract TO their own
state institutions the men and the
women who are now enrolled in
Northern and Western universities.
The believers in this movement are
urging the placing OF such college
r
cause of intellectual pride. not from
motives of soDtimcnt-thosc stages IL
they once existed, were passed long
.ag"---hut from very real sense OF
"NpcdicmCy. Give Virginia thoroughly
equipped tcachers-teachcrs who arc
fired with Il love for and a faith in their
WORK than Which none is more i'm
porraut TO their Stats--and that apathy
which countcnaucHs the tumblcd- down
jschoolhous". whether in tho mountains
or in tn" 'ncCks' OF the Eastern shore.
cauno; ana will not resist such
spirit Tho teacher IS tho touchstonc
! IN our rural communities.
! No, only do they trust that "A CO.
ordinate college established now will
bring 10 fruition their beliefs, but also
they feel that such an action will ward
against coeducation in the future. Such
| Is the opinion many, many times cX-
pressed by n large number of the pro-
fessors NJ the university when ask ed
why they favor n coordinate college
especially at this time.
The educational system OF Virginia
has definitely set out on tho democra-
tie road that leads 10 equality Of OPP
portunity TO all, and cannot turn back
If II would: one progressive step makes
another imperative. No matter how
many years OF college work are in :
stalled n the normal schools: no mat
ter what colleges for women may be
established elsewhere. SO long as the
ltnivcrsity OF Virginia is openly de-
Clared to he tho capstonc of the public
school system of this State. just so long
will the forward looking women Of
Virginia believe that they, the daugh :
tiers of this Commonwealth. arc entitled
10 share in she benefits and blessings
that the highest institution of learn
ing in the State OF Virginia has to
"ffcr-yes, until the time shall come. as
it will and must when that institution
shall serve all tho people to the fullest
extent OF its usefulness
BESSIE +. TAYLOR
Richmond. February 4.