She said that at the outset of the movement in which they interested themselves the advocates of the higher education of women contended for equality of privilege and opportunity in the matter of university training, and they achieved success by demonstrating by actual results the intellectual ability of women to carry off the highest honours when in competition with men.
This having been established, the contention was next advanced that the time had arrived when woman was entitled to a differentiated curriculum more in accordance with her future destiny.
In other words, the argument is that woman, having been compelled to go outside her recognised sphere in an attempt to compel recognition of her claims to be an educated and educative force in the community, is now entitled - due recognition of the former fact having been accorded her - to specialise in Home Economics for the ultimate benefit and improvement of the race.
Theoretically this argument may be accepted as perfectly sound, but it is not impossible that in actual practice many serious obstacles may emerge; and it will be interesting to observe to what extent Miss Boys Smith and her students will be able to meet and overcome them.
We take it that her idea is to make the new chair worthy of University tradition by raising what are ordinarily considered the menial duties of what may broadly be described as housewifery to the dignity of a science, and thus indirectly to benefit the whole community.
It is clear from her realisation of the objections that are most commonly advanced against this departure in University training that Miss Boys Smith is alive to the difficulties which beset her path.
She is fortunately situated, however, in the enjoyment of a sympathetic environment.
She has been publicly assured of the cordial co-operation of the Professorial Board as well as of the Council of the University.
And since through the generosity of Mr John Studholme the maintenance of the classes will entail no expense upon the University for some years to come, criticism is silenced to a large extent, and the occupant of the chair of Domestic Science will have an admirable opportunity of justifying its creation in a community which has already gained some renown for daring experiments.
- ODT , 6.4.1911
