134 APPENDIX TO FIRST REPORT.
Statement xxxrx.
Miss White, Lady Principal, Alexandra College.
XXXIX.
Statement on the Position of Women Students at Trinity College, Dublin, submitted by Miss H.
M.
White,
Hon.
LL.D.
Dnbl.
Univ.,
Lady Principal of Alexandra College, Dublin.
1.
Necessities for Women's University Life.
A.—Collegiate
Life.
2.
Action of Trinity College with regard to Collegiate
Life for Women.
3.
Relations between Trinity College and Alexandra
College.
4.
Value of Social Life in a Woman's College.
5.
Conditions for Residence of Women Students of
Trinity College.
6.
Absence of Age Limits.
B.—University
Curriculum.
7.
Tendency of Education in Trinity College.
8.
Objects of Women entering Trinity College.
9.
Trinity Course as a preparation for Teaching.
10.
Teaching and Fees in Trinity College Arts Course.
11.
General Remarks and Suggestions.
12.
Summing np.
Appendix:—Note on Details of Trinity College Cur¬
riculum for Pass Degree.
NB.—The
reference in this paper to pages and paragraphs in the Dublin University Calendar are to the Calendar of 1905-6.
1.
Women's University Life, Necessities for.
It has been recognized by educational authorities, and borne out by the action of universities, that women's university life ought to include:—-(a) Residence in, or at least connection with, a women's college.
For example, Newnham and Girton Colleges are in connection with Cambridge Univer-s-ity, St.
Margaret's College in connection with Glas¬ gow, Aberdare Hall with Cardiff, Alexandra Hall with Aberystwyth, Bedford College with London.
(5) Teaching by means of lectures.
Access to laboratories, library, etc.
Opportunities for receiv¬ ing special teaching and opportunities for research.
(c) Admission to University degrees and diplomas.
fin this statement I confine mv remarks to points (a) and (&)].
A.—Collegiate
Life foe Women.
2.
Action of Trinity College, Dublin, with regard to
Collegiate Life for Women.
In entering the field of women's education, Trinity College has not made any use of the existing organiza¬ tions, buildings, etc.,
at Alexandra College.
This College grew up beside Trinity College, Dublin, in the years 1866-1904, when the doors of the latter were closed to women; and it prepared for the degrees of the ttoyal University of Ireland throughout the whole period since women were admitted to iK decrees i c since 1881 During that period 173 students of Alex¬ andra-College graduated.
Alexandra College expressed its willingness to devote itself to the Collegiate work for women connected with Trinity College, Dublin as soon as the scheme admitting women was published
3.
Relation between Trinity College and Alexandra
College.
The relations between Trinity College and
_
Alex¬ andra College have always been close and intimate.
Since the foundation of Alexandra College, the Pro¬ vost of Trinity College has always been a member of its Council, and two other members of the Board of Trinity College are also members of the Council of Alexandra College.
The Fellows and Professors of Trinity College have, from the outset, taught at Alex¬ andra College.
Several of our Professors are lecturers in the same subjects at Trinity College; e.g.,
Dr.
N.
J.
D.
White, Catechetical Lecturer in Trinity College, is Trench Professor of Divinity in Alexandra College; Professor Wardell, Professor of History in Trinity College, holds the same office in Alexandra College ; Mr.
C.
Maturin, Lecturer in the Law School in Trinity College, is Lecturer in Constitutional History in Alexandra College ; Professor A.
M.
Selss, Profes¬ sor of German in Trinity College, holds the same position in Alexandra College.
In addition to these Professors there are on our staff many women gradu¬ ates with high distinction from Oxford, Cambridge, and the Royal University of Ireland.
It would seem fitting under these circumstances, and in connection with a movement for the advancement of the higher education of women, that suitably qualified lecturers at Alexandra College should be recognized as Univer¬ sity lecturers.
No recognition of this kind has been given by the Board of Trinity College.
During the past session a link was created between us and Trinity College by the formation of a Training Department at Alexandra College, the working of which is carried on in connection with the Depart¬ ment for the Training of Teachers established by the Board of Trinity College.
A further bond of union lies in the fact that of the eighty-eight women now passing through the Trinity College course, fifty-eight are students of Alexandra College, i.e.,
66 per cent, of Trinity College women come from Alexandra College ; some have been resi¬ dents in our Hall, and many still attend lectures here, belong to our Clubs and life our Reading Rut mis, and we have, at every stage, given the greatest encourage¬ ment to our students to enter Trinity College.
Seeking to strengthen this bond, and relying on Clause 5 of the scheme under which women are ad¬ mitted to the University (v.
p.
69 Trinity College Calendar, 1905-6, Resolutions adopted by the Board, March 21, 1903), wc applied in Michaelmas Term, 1904, for lectures to be given at Alexandra College by a Trinity College lecturer to our class of eight Junior Freshmen.
We were, however, informed that the Board of Trinity College was unable to grant the re¬ quest.
4.
Value of Social Life in Women's College.
This refusal was received with strong feelings of regret, as it seemed to me desirable, if the degree is to have the same value in the case of women as of r^en, that women should have the opportunity of sharing in the corporate life of a woman's college.
This corporate life can never'be fully developed for women m a men's college, and it is deemed on all hands an indispensable preparation for filling the highest educational posts.
A University degree which does not include it is therefore of considerably less value.
