BOYDJ@qucdn.queensu.ca (Jeff Boyd) (03/23/91)
The following editorial article appeared in the 16-Dec-1876 edition of the Queen's College Journal, then the campus newspaper of what is now Queen's University, Canada. At that time, the university had just begun admitting women to classes (but not yet to degrees). - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The degrees of a university we consider inappropriate to ladies for this reason - that they have reference solely to public life. Their conferment implies that the objects of it are to go forth to push their way into the outside world ... Their bestowal upon women would be a great step toward effectuating the views of the advocates of Women's Rights, and opening them to the professions and employments of public life, a consummation devoutly to be deprecated. If the conclusion arrived at be admitted, we are confident that among people who appreciate the delicate grace and beauty of women's character too much to expose it to the rude influences, the bitterness and strife of the world, few will be found to advocate her admission to universities ... The place woman fills in society, and the peculiarities of her nature, must determine what is the proper quality of her culture. The highest ideal of society is not that in which women become logic-choppers. The severe studies which are found necessary in the training of young men would not be best suited to women. Their proper sphere of action is the domestic circle. Their highest duties they owe to the family, which also calls forth their most shining virtues. Therefore her education should be practical, fitting her to govern the household with wisdom and prudence. For her own sake her mind should be cultivated, but her mental culture should not be what is regarded as distinctively intellectual. It should be governed with reference to elegance as well as strength, to the development of the tastes and affections as well as the mere reasoning faculties. Let a woman rather acquire the modern languages than the ancient, and let her rather study music, poetry and painting than the problems of mathematics and metaphysics. We would admire the lady who, while she could bake good bread, was not unfamiliar with Corneille and Schiller, and who could give sensible opinions of the works of Beethoven and Mozart; but may the day be far distant when Canadian Lady Jane Greys shall fill up the pauses in the dance with quotations from Plotinus, and spice their drawing-room conversation with discussion on the differential calculus or transcendental idealism.