THE HIGHER EDUCATION OF WOMEN.

Southland Times, Issue 1662, 15 November 1872, Page 3

THE HIGHER EDUCATION OF WOMEN.

At the meeting of the British Association, held at Brighton, a discussion took place upon a paper of Mias SherrefTs on the "Higher Education of Women," which she read in the Economic Section. Tbe great interest which this provoked was a surprise to most people. The room was crowded, and although each speaker was limited to ten minutes, the discussion lasted from eleven to two o'clock. Among the speakers were Lady Bowring, Mrs Favrcett, Miss Becker, Miss Davies, and Miss Sherreff herself. Several gentlemen also took part in the discussion, hut certainly neither their style nor the manner of their speeches contrasted favorably with the logical argument and clear modulated voices of the women. Coming out of the discussion room, says the correspondent of a daily paper, I met a friend wearing an unusually depressed expression. Upon asking what was the matter, he replied that he felt thoroughly humiliated, that in spite of the many years practice in public speaking which men had had, they were already so far excelled by women, whose voices until the last few years had never been heard on the public platform. The object of Mias SberrefFe paper was to bring forward a scheme for the establishment of a Joint Stock Company whose object is the foundation of schools where women can be thoroughly taught and trained to become efficient teachers. This company is called " The National Union for promoting the higher Education of Wocnea," and already promises great encouragement to its promoters,many of the shares having been taken up, and great interest ia its. welfare having been shown by many public and private bodies in the kingdom.