Read Ebook: Higher Education for Women in Great Britain by Sheavyn Phoebe

Font size: 10 px 15 px 20 px 25 px 30 px 35 px

Background color: BlackWhiteGrayLight GrayDark GrayDim Gray

Text color: BlackWhiteGrayLight GrayDark GrayDim Gray

Apply/Save settings

Ebook has 87 lines and 11755 words, and 2 pages

On account of the comparative scarcity of women in senior positions, it is usual in most non-residential Colleges and Universities to employ some senior woman as a member of the administrative staff, charged with the duty of superintending the general welfare of the women students. Her status and duties vary greatly--from those of a mere chaperon to those of a Senior authority, consulted in all matters concerning women students individually and collectively, and responsible for making representations as to any matter, academic or social, affecting them. It is partially realised that women students, having often received a different education from that given to boys and having the prospect of other careers and other spheres of work, may be specially affected by academic legislation; and in matters of building and equipment their needs are always to some extent special. The most enlightened Universities and Colleges therefore afford considerable powers and status to this woman official . In residential Universities the Heads of the Women's Colleges have the necessary academic information, official status, and knowledge of their students' needs.

There are, however, some eight or nine exceptions. The Association of Head Mistresses has asked that some such official shall be appointed wherever there are women students.

In regard to the meaning the terms 'College' and 'Hall,' it may be said that the 'Hall' provides residence only; the 'College' provides teaching, and arranges for admission into the University, while it may, or may not, also provide residence.

At Oxford and Cambridge the cost of board, lodging and tuition for the session, consisting of three terms of eight to nine weeks each, varies from ?135 to ?150.

Next in order of expense comes London, where the fees for residence in College, apart from tuition, are ?90 to ?100. In the larger University cities of England, residence costs about ?70; in the smaller places, in Wales and in Scotland, it is lower .

Where the fees for guidance or tuition in advanced work are charged separately from those for residence, they vary from ?5 to ?15 in the Faculty of Arts; in the Faculty of Science they usually depend on the nature of the practical work involved. For the examination of these the charge may be from ?5 to ?10, and for the conferment of the degree from ?5 to ?20.

CAREERS FOR UNIVERSITY WOMEN.

Most of the women students in British Universities are intending to earn their living; the exceptions being a few at Oxford and Cambridge. The careers most fully open to them are teaching and medicine, for which full professional training is provided in the Universities. A large army of women graduates is employed in the Secondary Schools, and many women doctors hold positions in hospitals, especially in those for women and children, or carry on private practice. Pharmacy is chosen as an occupation by many women, and in dentistry there is plenty of room--though very few women enter upon it.

Students showing marked talent fairly often obtain grants enabling them to prosecute research for a year or two; a few private commercial firms employ research workers and occasionally engage a woman; but the opportunities of this kind are comparatively rare. A certain number of women in practically every University now hold positions as Demonstrators in laboratories, or as Assistant Lecturers or Lecturers; a very few are Professors. Some are employed as lecturers under organisations for extending advanced teaching outside the Universities.

Such are the Workers' Educational Association, and the various University Extension Schemes.

In the Civil Service , University women are employed in some numbers under the Board of Education, the Home Office, the Ministry of Health and the Local Government Board, as Inspectors and Medical Officers. The Ministry of Labour and the Post Office, while employing large numbers of women, offer very few posts suitable for University graduates. During the war many women held in Government offices positions of importance and responsibility; but most of them have now been dispensed with under the plea of economy, or of providing employment for discharged soldiers. A very few of these women, however, still retain their posts, and there is a fairly powerful movement for opening the higher positions in the Civil Service to women. Hitherto all women employed have been engaged by individual selection; it is now proposed that after three years from 1921, they shall be eligible to compete for posts in the same examinations as men, though power is to be retained to appoint to any given post either a man or a woman, as may seem best, from among the successful candidates. It remains to be seen to what extent this provision may be used to nullify the chances of women. There is powerful opposition in many Government departments; but the Treasury is said to be favourable to the gradual introduction of women in higher administrative positions. At present, such openings for them are few. It is not at present even proposed to open to them positions in diplomacy or in the consulate.

A considerable number of educated women find administrative positions as Heads of University Colleges, Halls of Residence, and Training Colleges for Teachers. Some of the older Training Colleges are still presided over by men as Principals; but it is the policy of the Board of Education to replace these upon retirement by women. All Heads and Assistants in Elementary and Secondary Schools for girls only are women; but in schools open to both boys and girls, it is customary to appoint a man as Head, with or without a senior woman in special charge of the girls. In Scotland it is still common for a girls' school to have a Headmaster.

Secretarial work is a career coveted by many University graduates unwilling to enter upon the occupation of teaching. The Universities do not, however, provide a professional training for this; nor are the openings suited for University women very numerous. Some occasionally find congenial posts as foreign correspondents in banks and commercial firms; many become organising secretaries for philanthropic or kindred organisations; a favoured few become private secretaries to literary, scientific, or political personages. The demand, however, for secretaries of University education is not at this moment equal to the supply.

The Church offers at present very little scope for women: except in one or two of the free sects, the ministry is not open to them. The Law has only within the last year or two been opened to them.

Librarianship offers a very limited number of opportunities. Some College and University libraries employ a few women in comparatively subordinate positions; the ordinary City Library does not offer any opening to women of University education. An attempt has recently been made to provide a professional training for Librarians, following the example set long ago by the United States; but for women the prospects seem at present precarious.

Home Economics and Domestic Science being still outside the purview of the Universities, practically no University women are qualified to undertake posts either as teachers or as practical workers in this sphere. There is, however, a very large demand for highly qualified Institutional Managers, Matrons, Superintendents, etc., and good salaries can be earned in such positions. It is to be hoped that with the return of better financial prospects in the Universities, advanced training in work of this kind, eminently suitable for educated women, may be undertaken.

WOMEN STUDENTS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES.

THE BRITISH FEDERATION OF UNIVERSITY WOMEN.

Professor Caroline Spurgeon, Doc. Univ. Paris, Hon. Litt.D. .

The British Federation of University Women was formed in 1910, for the purpose of furthering the interests of University women.

The British Federation is composed of Local Associations of University women, the country being divided for this purpose into areas around different large centres. Local Associations have been formed in eleven areas, the centre in each case being a University town. Twenty members is the minimum required to form a Local Association. These Associations are free to adopt any objects which are in accord with the "Aims of the Federation."

Membership is restricted to women who hold a University degree or its equivalent. Registered medical women or registered dentists are qualified for membership.

In addition to regular members the Federation admits as associates, in certain cases, women who have studied for not less than two years regularly at a University. Students in their last year may be admitted as temporary associates, at the discretion of the Local Association, on the understanding that they become members after taking their degree.

Women who have not studied at a University, but who have advanced the higher education and the interests of women, may be admitted by the Local Associations as honorary members.

Neither associates nor honorary members have voting power.

An Annual Meeting of the General Committee is held during the summer term for the election of the officers of the Federation and other business. This General Committee is composed of the members of the Executive Committee and delegates from each Local Association.

Special meetings may also be called at the request of the delegates of any three branches.

The Executive Committee consists of the President, Hon. Secretaries, Hon. Treasurer, the Chairman of the Committee on International Relations, the Secretaries of the British Federation and of the Committee on International Relations, eight members elected by the General Committee at the Annual Meeting, and representatives of each Local Association. The Executive may co-opt four additional members.

The President may not hold office for more than five years, and the eight elected members of the Executive retire annually. No member of the Executive Committee, other than the officers, may hold office for more than four consecutive years.

Members are admitted to Local Associations on payment of a small entrance fee and either an annual subscription, varying slightly within the different Associations, or a uniform life membership subscription of ?3 10s. Annual subscriptions are paid to the local secretaries or treasurers. Life subscriptions are paid to the central Treasurer. Each Local Association contributes out of its annual subscriptions a minimum capitation fee of 4s. per member to the general funds of the Federation. The financial year runs from June 1st to May 31st.

The Central Office of the Federation is at 73, Avenue Chambers, Vernon Place, Southampton Row, London, W.C.1.

Printed by John Roberts Press Ltd., 14 Clerkenwell Green, London, E.C.1.

INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF UNIVERSITY WOMEN.

The first Conference of the Federation was held at Bedford College for Women, London, in July, 1920. Fifteen countries were represented. Articles of a constitution and bye-laws were adopted which are calculated to provide effective machinery for ensuring co-operation between the national associations of University women in the various parts of the world. An account of the Conference, including full reports of speeches by Professor Caroline Spurgeon, Dean Virginia C. Gildersleeve, President M. Carey Thomas and other speakers, together with reports on the higher education of women in the countries represented and the text of the constitution and bye-laws, will be found in the Report, Bulletin No. 1. Copies may be obtained from the Secretary . In the United States copies may be obtained from Miss Virginia Newcomb, Institute of International Education, 419, West 117th Street, New York.

Transcriber's Note:

Possible printer errors have been changed.

For additional contact information:

Share on: WhatsApp @Hash Facebook Tweet