A kerfuffle over co-education

Tuesday, 17 November 2009 00:00

November 17, 1898. Now that Oxford and Cambridge have admitted women students, they could avoid a heap of trouble simply by permitting male and female students to study and even play games together, says the Regina Standard.

The College of Wales at Aberystwith is now in a condition of terrible upheaval. The women students there, who are very numerous, live in their own block of buildings. Some nights ago, one of them after dark, held sweet conversation with a male student through a window, which, by the way, was out of reach.

The conversation was of the briefest, consisting chiefly of "good night," and must have been audible to all and sundry. The matron in charge, overcome by the heinous breach of decorum, summoned Juliet's mother to remove her shameless daughter, and also appealed to the principal to expel Romeo. The principal refused.

Then an appeal was made to the senate. The reverend body discussed the matter for more than 30 hours, and decided to reinstate Juliet, but to incarcerate her in a private house where she cannot contaminate her fellow students.

Romeo, less fortunate, was rusticated for two terms. The students, dressed in deep mourning and singing the dead march from "Saul" and Welsh funeral hymns, accompanied him to the station, where thousands assembled to witness his departure.

This annoyance arises out of the efforts put forth to keep the boys and girls apart. If the managers of these ancient seats of learning could but drop their antiquated notions, throw down the high walls of separation, and permit the sexes to commingle in play, study and recitation, the difficulties now endured, in vain and unnatural attempts to keep cupid in subjection, would vanish. We feel sure that the young ladies and gentlemen of the Regina Normal school will uphold us in this contention.