Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-01-30

ono which is not co.ordinatc or co.
.uuucal lonal. and usually ono outside or
~, ~, S';tic: IN spite Of their alleged in
crest III state institutions.
=, mere Is 40 need for this coed" de-
Iarlment 10 be established. What
cnt i Sur, ." demand ma. seem appar-
supports seven normal schools. at leant
lonr ~ which arc exclusively .o, wo.
men. if tho need for higher cducatio,
was so pressing why not concentrate
scattered cncrStcS in ono Of these nor
ma schools? In addition TO these. Vir-
preparatory schools. two Of these col
lcgcS OF y rank with their degree,
rcSoshiz"d and accepted at all larger
tpr Wh ana nmiVetsiti.s in the coun-
any iitcracy test, due 10 the nn,ortu-
nate conditions among tho mountain
e"rS ana TO the negro population II is
an indis1utabIc fact that her standa rd
or culture Is as high az any; "A f.ct
shown hy the positions which in All
our hlsiorE. NirSinans have held and
arc holding today.
But tho advocates OF this mcasu-a
say such scheme would make up the
aaek OF teachers that We find now
due 20 inadequate pay. and no, 10 a,,.
lack Of educated women with college
n ,.s In many scctions OF the Stale
teachers Work for little as 33Ju
p"r Scar. less than tho minimum uara
paid unskilicd labor in factories and
shops. IN nc city schools tho begin
per cent. Furthermore, there IL no dis
elimination in favor of college grad
natcs' ihcN must start at the same pay
as norma school or high school
graduate. Hence i, is only natural thar
! college girls should either go West
WHERE IN *ofne sections. grammar
school teachers arc started a, a salary
o. 5l2p per month. or teach In some pri-
Natc school. or else enter AN office 1T
~" TO -" per week. Again. there is
ana women. y man viii receive At til.
start from $40 10 sl25 per month. A
woman Win precisely tho same degree
and doing the same work will rrcriye
S"3 per month. Another pertinent fact
tand one which would indicate that
wr must have a coordinate college
decided preference is given any dc
gree from William and Mary over the
same degree from the university or
elsewhere. Also. from commercial
point OF view. diploma for six or
eight weeks course at Columbia i,
worth y. \. from any other college.
West where coeducation is prevalent.
shows that both sides lose iinmcasur-
ably. I mere Is an ugly spirit OF anta.-
oniam and untriendly rivalry dercloped:
tho men either ignore tho goods or treat
them with contemptuous condcscension
aud tho girls either pose az manhaters
or Slo" an cnSioli asgreSsiveneSS
This may hc seen FIRST hand by a visit
10 ono Of these colleges or by asking.
~ casual way and on guard, any man
VINO mas attended a coed college his
opinion OF such n system. Also by tho
fact that all girls who can afford Ia
do 50 conc Eas, &" ono OF our nom
the result in = situation so much NOR.
favorable, what would il he in 4 COM
munity and environment such as Is Of
fcrcd here, where public sentiment IA
against II and tho entire student BODY
opposed to it This system must prove
'n"HectiEc; for a real lady could never
where she would not only be conspicu-
Gus but unwantcd TO bitter extent.
II the system must be tried out 10 show
its deficiencies. then make the expert
ment at William and Mary. where there
is little or no opposition to it,
TO establish such a college for wo-
to tho masses of the people. especially
TO the farmers wives and daughters.
II is making all pay for what only Il
few profit by. In these times of stress,
especially ii is wrong. When the pco-
pie arc called on to sacrifice to the
utmost II IS criminal 10 set aside war
pic Tor the selfish personal desires Of Il
few. True democracy would look to
the perfection Of the popular. grammar
school system. There is crying need
here for more and better schools with
living wage for teachers. Until illit-
rracy IS wiped out. and there is no
sources and facilities in the lower
branches VIC have no right to even con-
slider this question.
Last. but not least. our university is
our most sacred possession. and, as it
now stands. with the possible excep-
ton of alien influence, perfect as any
human organization can be. 1T is
unique. standing out as does, Oxford
and Cambridge and Heidelberg. bea-
con light and model for others. To
compare ii with less important ones
in the new Western country or to
attempt to make ii conform to their
pattern, is as absurd as to try to chisel
the sun out and make it the shape OF
one of the smaller stars. 1t Is almost
past belief that true Eirginians will
allow this beautiful and precious heri.
tagc TO be tempered with for the sake
Of foolish experiment, an experiment
advocated III great measure and at.
tempted 10 be thrust upon US by out.
siders.
\ COLLEGE GRADUATE.
Richmond. Va, January 20. 1918
h. NJ