WHAT SHOULD IT BE?

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 84, 6 October 1938, Page 19

WHAT SHOULD IT BE?

"HIGHER" EDUCATION

THE COLLEGE-TRAINED

WOMAN

Higher education for women—equal advantages with men—cries we hear on all sides, states an exchange. But what exactly do they mean? What should be the "higher" education of women? That is an almost unanswerable question. The term, as generally applied, means longer schooldays, followed by college or university—many years of hard work for examinations, and quantities of outdoor sport. But ask the average man what he would consider the higher education of women should include, and it will be a very different story. He would probably hiist that the education of women should be in womanly things— might he not have touched on a truth which we like to keep hidden? Girls whose parents are well enough off to have sent them to a good finishing school learn all that they need there. Those parents who cannot afford such luxuries, but who have denied themselves many things in order to give their girls what they consider all the advantages of higher education, often do not realise the disadvantages that go with it. The intelligent girl, who has been kept at school until she is 18 or 19, and has then gone to a woman's college or university, sometimes emerges into the world at the age of 22 or 23. She is perfectly at home with pads on her shins and- an implement of sport in her hands—slouches about a room — sprawls 'in ; chairs —talks loudly and laughs nosily. Well educated she may be, but dignified or graceful—never! There are some,who are born with a natural dignity to whom the social graces come as an instinct, but modern education seems to be making a section decidedly "difficult." HOSTESS DUTIES BOTCHED. Ask the college-trained young woman to pour out tea at one of her mother's At JHomes, or., to. carry, a cup safely across a room, or to put that shy Mrs. So-and-so at ease, or to perform any of the hundred and jne little duties of a good hostess. She is not always a success in these matters. Surely it is up to every mother to see that her daughters have the same advantages as their less educated forbears? The true combination of intelligence and grace should be an irresistible achievement. How easy it should be to teach the rudiments of entering a room easily, sitting .gracefully, making pleasant conversation, looking after the comforts of guests, and other such simple things. The groundwork upon which a girl may learn dignity and then build her own personality is simple, and the desired result follows inevitably and imperceptibly. The Victorian parent who seemed forever nagging—"don't rush upstairs, girls"—"shut the door quietly, dear" —"stop fidgeting at once, Eva" —was a wise woman, and knew the value of early training. It is a difficult task to teach poise to a gauche tomboy of 22. It makes her more conscious of her hands and feet and more noisy in everything she does, and may produce an inferiority complex which will have a devastating effect on her whole future life. It must be remembered that to a great number of women the! task of carrying on the future generations is their destiny, and in their j heart of hearts what most of them! desire. To do this they must make a happy and successful marriage, found a comfortable home, and know how to i bring up their children. **' There is an old saying about a woman's sphere—but to a woman's sphere must be brought a woman's grace and charm.