SCHOLARSHIP TO COMMEMORATE THE ADMISSION OF LADY STUDENTS TO THE UNIVERSITY.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 225, 23 May 1872, Page 5

SCHOLARSHIP TO COMMEMORATE THE ADMISSION OF LADY STUDENTS TO THE UNIVERSITY.

(From t\e Evening Star, May 14th.) To-day a number of ladies met at the Education Office, for the purpose of taking steps to originate a ladies' scholarship in connection with the Otago University, to commemorate their admission to the classes. After the usual preliminaries, the following paper was read :—: — They were met for a simple object — viz., to propose measures for originating a scholarship in grateful acknowledment of the admission of women to the privileges of the Otago University. It was a great boon accorded to ladies, aud one that should not be allowed to pass unrecognised, lest those who had hitherto been their friends should become discouraged, and stand aside from still further promoting the better education of women — one of the, if not the chief, social movements of the day. If the ladies united, by vigorous, active efforts, there seemed no reason to fear that success would not attend them. It might, however, be well to prepare to meet objections Lord Lyttelton and Mr Acland, two of the Royal Commissioners, in their "School's enquiry " reports on the education of girls in England said to Miss Emily Daries when examining her, that it had been stated to them that the increasing desire of ladies to have a test for their own knowledge and to gain scholarships was nothing but a piece of female ambitioHsness — that they would not be satisfied with a merely good examination of their attainments, but that they must run a race with boys to show that they could beat them. In Dunedin there were those who would meet the appeal the ladies were about to make to them, by remarks similar to those ; but the ladies should at once state that it was a mistake, and that they did not look upon it in the light of runniug a race at all. In competing for scholarships there was a fixed standard, which had a recognised value up to which all competitors tried to work, and they were simply desirous that girls should be tried by that standard, as indicative that they had attained a certain amount of knowledge. In one sense then, a scholarship, like a degree, was neither more nor less than a certificate ; it was not an indispensable condition that the scholarship be taken up and not won ; but perhaps at no distant date they might hope to gee them in the field to win it for its value as a certificate, without looking forward to its mere substantial value in a pecuniary light. In the meanwhile, however, it was for those who would gain the prize for its twofold advantages — vw., its value as a certificate, and its money value, for whom the ladies were desirous of establishing University scholarships. In Otago there was a large and increasing number of schools, to supply which the demand for efficient schoolmistresses was most difficult to be met, if indeed h would evf r be, nor was it difficult in other parts of New Zealand. A few weeks ago a lady ascertained to a certainty that there was not in Otago, Nelson, or Napier an educated woman, fit for a teacher in a firstclass school, disengaged. Now there were many girls here who aspired to fill the honor- j able position of teachers, but who lacked the means required for pursuing the higher studies after the period when their school education ceased. This had been learned | through personal contact with some of the young pupil teachers in Dunedin. Whilst they were without the means of following this higher culture, which our University i now offers to them, the schools and families in Otago all more er less suffer by the employment of uneducated women. Surely then ladies ought to recognise it as a duty to do their utmost that a woman before j being allowed to undertake the development and discipline of the faculties of the young, should be required to show that she possessed some ability for so important- a work. , Founding then their appeal upon this basis, the ladies should aofc doubt having the sym-

pathies and substantial help of rich and poor alike, according to their means — for was not their aim of the highest and noblest ? Therefore, in appealing to every man, they should individually aak in these simple words — " Give us what yom caa to promote a great and holy work : the means "of better mental training of the future men and women of New Zealand."

The following resolutions were adopted :—: — That the ladies at omce set about gathering subscriptions by house to house visitation throughout Dunedin. That subscription , papers be left at the banks and their agencies throughout the Province, and that the schoolmasters and schoolmistresses throughout the Province be requested to aid by gathering lubscriptions. That the wive* of clergymen of every denomination be asked to take steps tof aid in gathering subscriptions in their districts.

It was resolved that the existing High School scholarships should be divided equally between the girls and boys, and that it was unjust to devote them to the advantage of boys only. It was announced that donations of L 5 5 s each had been received from the Hon. Major Richardson and tho Hon. Mr Holmes, and it was resolved fco send copies of the address to the members of the Provincial Council, calling their especial attention to it. Mr Sperry was elected hon. treasu er.

The following committee was appointed : — V>esdamcs Whitelaw, Muir, W. Dalyrmple, Miss Mackenzie (Halfway Bush), Miss Ualrymole (Port Chalmers), Mrs Spooner (Tokomairirio), Mrs Nugent Wood (Switzers), Mrs Johnson (Manse, Port Chalmers), Mrs Downes (Port Chalmers), with power to add to their number.