LT0 THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR.1
SIR,—As you have discussed this subject in your last number, perhaps you will find space for a little evidence from experi- ence. Your correspondent Mr. Tylee wishes to rule out all opinions from those who only know co-education by hearsay. I should like to rule out another class of opinion. There is an old proverb that it is an "ill bird that fouls its own nest." On that principle we cannot look for unprejudiced opinion from those who are now either running co-education schools or teaching in them. We can hardly expect them to do any- thing else but advocate their own system. But there are men . who have worked in co-education schools, and being now no longer bound up in them, can give a frank opinion. For about ten years I worked under the co-education system as a Head-Master in circumstances that were distinctly favourable to the co-education of boys and girls, and I had under me a large number of assistants of both sexes. My experience convinced me that, as a rule (there are, of course, occasional exceptions), women do not make as good teachers for boys as men, nor do men teach girls as well as women do. Of course, I quits admit that women teach little children, say under nine, better than men. May I mention two other points ? Your correspondent writes as if co-education were an American discovery; but it has existed for generations in Scotland, where, however, the tendency of late years has been away from the system. Again, with reference to your own argument on the matrimonial effects of the system, I am reminded that one of my ablest colleagues in co-education work gave it as his opinion that the chief recommendation of co-education was that the insight boys received into the character of girls prevented them being carried later into unwise alliances by any angelic views of women. My own experience has led me to the conclusion that co-education is an inferior system, but that it has one great advantage,—cheapness. If we prefer efficiency to economy, we shall avoid co-education. If we must have cheapness, we may be led into it. I concur with most of your
own arguments.—I am, Sir, &c., EXPERTO CREDE.
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