Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-01-10
SHOULD WIVES BE TRAINED?
BY Frederic ;. Haskin


Washington. Jan. 10.--That the task
% being a vile and mother should be
numbered among the learned pro-
LESSONS and taught In the high schools
and colleges Is an idea that seems to
be steadily gaining ground.
1t got another recommendation the
other day when Or. Simon Katzor a
we'll known psycbo-anaIyst, told the
bridgeport Board OF Education that
Il should Immediately establish high
school classes for the purpose Of
training girls in the difficult business
oil being wives. lie said that Ameri-
can girls get no training at home in
this line. and that therefore the schools
must give IL. lie placed all The blame
for divorce and the general failure Of
marriage on the ignorance Of Amcri-
lean girls.
Apparently Or. Katzoff was concern.
ed chiefly with the girls position a
wife rather than mother. and his
criticism Of the American wife CON
ltains nothing new. lie simply limited
what every international observer mas
stated. that the American woman is
tyrant In her home and the Ameri-
can man the most petticoat-dominated
man on earth. In the typical Ameri-
can household the husband IS de-
prived OF a large part OF mis- personal
liberty in the matter Of his associa-
tions. engagements and haoits. His
wife's wisiles are presented TO him, not
in the form of requests. but OF de.
mands. Yet the average American
, male accepts this situation philoso
phically. For one thing. he has beer
trained to- feminine domination from
, carly childhood, for the American
youth is ruled by his mother far mfr'
than by his father. and ae is corr
monty enslaved by his elder sister
a. well. II seems quite natural Z
him to have his wife take i girniiar at
titude OF ownership.
In some cases doubtless he woul'
feel lost without Il. Certain II
that he Is generally shocked by tn
way German or Frenchraan treat
ais wife, while the Oriental attitud
OF regarding her frankly as an in
! ferior seems horrible 70 him.
womnn's Opportunity.
Doubtless the American attitude
- in many ways admirable. II gives II
= woman an unusual opportunity TO re-
:, alize herself as an individual and de
velop any abilities she may have. Fo
= a woman Of good character and intell
= gence it is an excellent system. Br
the flaw in II is that the American trs
: dition does not demand enough Of III
. woman to justify the large amount {
= freedom she is given.
y The American girl today, steprir
out OF high school or college, faces
is wealth Of opportunity, such as wone
have never enjoyed before IN any al
n or country. It il true that she HI
ie certain legal disabilities, and that 81
q ls apt to be paid less for the san
r work than a man. But her sisters a
organized 20 remove those legal di
? abilities and her situation IN all sor
Of work is steadily improving. whi
Of there are few things IN life from whi'
g she is barred by her sex. She can g
y as much education as any man. Sc
l. cree and medicine both offer her o
l. portunities OF which many women ha'
of already availed themselves.
h Journalism, literature and the 9th
* arts she already enjoys almost
Of much success and influence as me
Business opportunities are open TO h
I'd en- every hand. She has almost
much social freedom as a man. 81
RI can and does travel and go about alo
Al and choose her own associations. T
>. chaperon and The escort play ju
>, about as large q part in her lie
she wishes them TO play. and no larg
This creates an ideal situation I
the woman OF brains and energy. W
wants TO enter a profession or bu
As ness, who has definite craving
~, independence and self-developms
Gu There are many thousands of wo
en-