The Silver State

SHOULD GIRLS HAVE A PROFESSION?

The theory, held by many in years past, that a woman's place is at home may be a good one, provided she has a home. If she has none, it is fortunate for her to be able to provide for herself, and not be under the necessity of accepting charity. If girls were given a professional education or trained in some line of work, they would be able at any time to rely on their own resources and not consider it a hardship. What boy considers it a hardship to start out in life for himself? Instead of a hardship he considers it a privilege, a duty. Should not girls feel the same—feel that they have a work to do, and not that some one else must supply their wants? The discipline gained by a professional education fits a woman to fill any position in life better. It develops her reasoning faculties and her judgment. It makes her broader minded and enables her to look upon all sides of a perplexing question, and so to give a reason for her opinion. It will also be a great advantage to her from a financial point of view. She who earns her money knows its value better than she who never earned any. This may be an advantage to the man who marries a woman thus educated; it relieves him of the trouble of inquiring what she did with the money he gave her and advising her how she should spend the money she had just asked for. Were the girls educated for some profession or trade, many of the unhappy marriages might be avoided. Some girls left without means of support, and not able to take up anything to earn a living for themselves accept marriage as the only solution to the bread and butter question. By all means give the girls a professional education, not in place of a general education, but in addition to it. Educate them in some one thing, so they will be proficient in that. All the professions are open to women. There is need of more women as physicians and professional nurses, while professional cooks and housewives are always in demand. It may be said that a girl in good circumstances, with a good home, does not need such an education. But she may be deprived of these comforts, and then will be seen the utility of such training. Even if she may never need to use her education for her support she will be better fitted to aid and advise her children in their work and education.