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WHY GO TO COLLEGE？
WHY GO TO
COLLEGE？
ALICE FREEMAN PALMER
Formerly President of Wellesley College
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WHY GO TO COLLEGE？
To a largely increasing number of young girls college doors are
opening every year。 Every year adds to the number of men who feel as a
friend of mine； a successful lawyer in a great city； felt when in talking of
the future of his four little children he said； 〃For the two boys it is not so
serious； but I lie down at night afraid to die and leave my daughters only a
bank account。〃 Year by year； too； the experiences of life are teaching
mothers that happiness does not necessarily come to their daughters when
accounts are large and banks are sound； but that on the contrary they take
grave risks when they trust everything to accumulated wealth and the
chance of a happy marriage。 Our American girls themselves are becoming
aware that they need the stimulus； the discipline； the knowledge； the
interests of the college in addition to the school； if they are to prepare
themselves for the most serviceable lives。
But there are still parents who say； 〃There is no need that my daughter
should teach； then why should she go to college？〃 I will not reply that
college training is a life insurance for a girl； a pledge that she possesses
the disciplined ability to earn a living for herself and others in case of need；
for I prefer to insist on the importance of giving every girl； no matter what
her present circumstances； a special training in some one thing by which
she can render society service； not amateur but of an expert sort； and
service too for which it will be willing to pay a price。 The number of
families will surely increase who will follow the example of an eminent
banker whose daughters have been given each her specialty。 One has
chosen music； and has gone far with the best masters in this country and in
Europe； so far that she now holds a high rank among musicians at home
and abroad。 Another has taken art； and has not been content to paint pretty
gifts for her friends； but in the studios of New York； Munich； and Paris；
she has won the right to be called an artist； and in her studio at home to
paint portraits which have a market value。 A third has proved that she can
earn her living； if need be； by her exquisite jellies； preserves； and
sweetmeats。 Yet the house in the mountains； the house by the sea； and the
friends in the city are not neglected； nor are these young women found less
attractive because of their special accomplishments。
While it is not true that all girls should go to college any more than
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that all boys should go； it is nevertheless true that they should go in greater
numbers than at present。 They fail to go because they； their parents and
their teachers； do not see clearly the personal benefits distinct from the
commercial value of a college training。 I wish here to discuss these
benefits； these larger gifts of the college life；what they may be； and for
whom they are waiting。
It is undoubtedly true that many girls are totally unfitted by home and
school life for a valuable college course。 These joys and successes； these
high interests and friendships； are not for the self…conscious and nervous
invalid； nor for her who in the exuberance of youth recklessly ignores the
laws of a healthy life。 The good society of scholars and of libraries and
laboratories has no place and no attraction for her who finds no message in
Plato； no beauty in mathematical order； and who never longs to know the
meaning of the stars over her head or the flowers under her feet。 Neither
will the finer opportunities of college life appeal to one who； until she is
eighteen （is there such a girl in this country？）； has felt no passion for the
service of others； no desire to know if through history or philosophy； or
any study of the laws of society； she can learn why the world is so sad； so
hard； so selfish as she finds it； even when she looks upon it from the most
sheltered life。 No； the college cannot be； should not try to be； a substitute
for the hospital； reformatory or kindergarten。 To do its best work it should
be organized for the strong； not for the weak； for the high…minded； self…
controlled； generous； and courageous spirits； not for the indifferent； the
dull； the idle； or those who are already forming their characters on the
amusement theory of life。 All these perverted young people may； and often
do； get large benefit and invigoration； new ideals； and unselfish purposes
from their four years' companionship with teachers and comrades of a
higher physical； mental； and moral stature than their own。 I have seen girls
change so much in college that I have wondered if their friends at home
would know them；the voice； the carriage； the unconscious manner； all
telling a story of new tastes and habits and loves and interests； that had
wrought out in very truth a new creature。 Yet in spite of this I have
sometimes thought that in college more than elsewhere the old law holds；
〃To him that hath shall be given and he shall have abundance； but from
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him who hath not shall be taken away even that which he seemeth to
have。〃 For it is the young life which is open and prepared to receive which
obtains the gracious and uplifting influences of college days。 What； then；
for such persons are the rich and abiding rewards of study in college or
university？
Pre…eminently the college is a place of education。 That is the ground of
its being。 We go to college to know； assured that knowledge is sweet and
powerful； that a good education emancipates the mind and makes us
citizens of the world。 No college which does not thoroughly educate can
be called good； no matter what else it does。 No student who fails to get a
little knowledge on many subjects； and much knowledge on some； can be
said to have succeeded； whatever other advantages she may have found by
the way。 It is a beautiful and significant fact that in all times the years of
learning have been also the years of romance。 Those who love girls and
boys pray that our colleges may be homes of sound learning； for
knowledge is the condition of every college blessing。 〃Let no man
incapable of mathematics enter here；〃 Plato is reported to have inscribed
over his Academy door。 〃Let no one to whom hard study is repulsive hope
for anything from us；〃 American colleges might paraphrase。 Accordingly
in my talk today I shall say little of the direct benefits of knowledge which
the college affords。 These may be assumed。 It is on their account that one
knocks at the college door。 But seeking this first； a good many other things
are added。 I want to point out some of these collateral advantages of going
to college； or rather to draw attention to some of the many forms in which
the winning of knowledge presents itself。
The first of these is happiness。 Everybody wants 〃a good time；〃
especially every girl in her teens。 A good time； it is true； does not always
in these years mean what it will mean by and by； any more than the girl of
eighteen plays with the doll which entranced the child of eight。 It takes
some time to discover that work is the best sort of play； and some people
never discover it at all。 But when mothers ask such questions as these：
〃How can I make my daughter happy？〃 〃How can I give her the best
society？〃 〃How can she have a good time？〃 the answer in most cases is
simple。 Send her to college；to almost any college。 Send her because there
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is no other place where between eighteen and twenty…two she is so likely
to have a genuinely good time。 Merely for good times； for romance； for
society； college life offers unequalled opportunities。 Of course no idle