Higher Education for Women in Great Britain — John Shaqi
Higher Education for Women in Great BritainSheavyn, Phoebe
History
Higher Education for Women in Great Britain
Sheavyn, Phoebe
Education, Higher -- Great Britain; Women -- Education (Higher) -- Great Britain; Women college students -- Great Britain
At first the education given was necessarily very simple; but as the
schoolgirls of the new age grew up, the need for a more extended
training became apparent. It was met partly by an extension of the
teaching given in certain of the schools; partly by the establishment
of a system of lectures for older girls, notably at Queen's College,
London, and in Glasgow, Liverpool and Manchester. Before long it became
clear that some more systematic higher education must be provided,
and efforts were made to enlist the sympathies of the Universities.
University professors undertook to repeat their lectures for the
benefit of girls; but the number of girls was for some time too few to
finance these schemes, and it was apparent that either their numbers
must be increased by the provision of residence, or expenses must be
reduced by obtaining the admission of girls to the classes held for
men. Both measures were attempted. A residential College for girls
was established at Hitchin (1869), afterwards removed to Girton,
near Cambridge (1873); Newnham Hall (later "College") was founded
in Cambridge in 1871; and in Oxford, Lady Margaret Hall (1878) and
Somerville Hall (later "College") (1879). Before long residence in or
near London was provided by Bedford College, Westfield College, and the
Royal Holloway College at Englefield Green in Surrey.
Meanwhile, a great impetus had been given in 1878 to the higher
education of women throughout England by the opening to them of the
examinations and degrees of the University of London. This University
was at that time purely an examining body, and teaching had to be
provided locally; but the possibility of obtaining the hall-mark of
a University degree greatly increased the number of girls seeking
instruction in the provincial towns, and many institutions gradually
opened their doors, among the first being Owens College, afterwards the
University of Manchester. At Glasgow, Queen Margaret College, availing
itself largely of the services of University lecturers, was founded in
1883.
Further advance was marked by the statutory permission given in 1892
to the Scottish Universities, granting them power to admit women to
graduation and to provide for their instruction. And in 1893 the Royal
Charter for the new University of Wales definitely enacted that women
should be eligible for all privileges accorded to men. Every University
incorporated since that date has adopted a similar enactment. The last
two strongholds of masculine privilege, Oxford and Cambridge, held out
for many years. Quite recently, in 1920, Oxford has capitulated with
a whole-hearted grace, which has won for this ancient University the
gratitude of all women. Cambridge alone now still refuses to women the
privilege of membership and graduation, but it cannot be long before
there also admission will be granted. One may safely prophesy that the
completion of the century (1940) will see the admission of women to
full University rights.[1]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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