228 INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF EDUCATION. 
In 1871 the “Oxford” and ‘¢ Cambridge” local were the only exami- 
nations open to girls as well as boys, and were the only means of testing 
their proficiency and of establishing a proper standard. Then followed 
the ¢“ higher locals,” and a long, uphill fight, which led to the opening of 
the university degree examinations to women, London leading the way 
in 1878; Cambridge in 1881. In 1882 some of the examinations at 
Oxford were opened to women ; since then further concessions have been 
made from time to time, and now Oxford and Cambridge are in almost 
sxactly the same position as regards their women students, except that 
Oxford has not yet required residence as a condition of taking the exami- 
nation, although this matter, too, is now under consideration. The 
actual degree (i.e., the right to add the letters to their names) is still 
withheld at Oxford and Cambridge, though granted at London. 
In addition to the opening of degree examinations, the universities, 
and especially the University of Cambridge, have established special 
examinations for teachers, both men and women, in the art of teaching. 
And in preparation for this examination (so usual in other countries) 
special women’s colleges have been opened in London, Cambridge, and in 
Wales. These colleges have proved very valuable in preparing high- 
school mistresses, and many ladies spend a year in them after leaving 
other colleges at Cambridge, Oxford, or London. 
Most of the schools of the Girls’ Public Day School Company, and 
many of the best local high-schools in England, are now examined by 
the Oxford and Cambridge Schools Examination Board, one of the only 
examining bodies in England undertaking to examine schools on their 
own work—being, therefore, a real test of the year’s work—while the 
standard is undoubtedly the highest known for the examination of 
schools, and is accepted as such by Rugby, Harrow, and most of the 
great public schools for boys. 
The council of the Girls’ Public Day School Company never tied their 
schools down to pass any outside examination. And only such are passed 
as are recommended by the head mistresses, especially those which facili- 
sate preparation for university training. For this end head mistresses 
have prepared pupils for the London matriculation, the Cambridge senior 
and higher local, and the Oxford women’s first examination. But at 
:he present time all these examinations—with exception of the London 
matriculation—are usually dispensed with, and the higher certificate 
granted by the joint board of Oxford and Cambridge is accepted in place. 
This has many special advantages. The work required is very thorough ; 
it may extend over two years, and it harmonizes with, and indeed forms 
a part of, the school examination by the board already alluded to, and 
adopted in the regular system of the Girls’ Public Day School Company. 
The advance in the standard of girls’ education is shown by the fact 
that the majority of girls from high-schools who go up to Oxford or 
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