Jan. 1880. I read a paper in Boston, Dec. 27, to the University Association. The points I attempted to show were: that we attempt too many studies for thoroughness; that the whole system of prizes and marks is immoral; that the great need of colleges is money and that it is the cause of these; that we have not money because our people do not believe in the education of women.

The question of prizes noted here by Maria Mitchell concern more about colleges providing prizes to others, perhaps even scholarships for which she was called out. Maria was NOT against monetary prizes, meaning scholarships for students. She created a scholarship in her father’s memory and when presented by Vassar College with a pension, she refused it, feeling that such money should go to the students and not her so that those who did not have enough money to attend Vassar would be able to do so. But here, prizes might also reflect our society’s desire to award everyone a prize as you see among younger students whether it be a sports game, a talent contest, or what-have-you. We give prizes for anything and everything. Frankly, we need to stop that. We need to teach young children that not everyone wins and that you learn something from losing. As an article a friend gave to me recently stated, by awarding everyone a prize – even those who come in last – we are not teaching our children to develop grit. Without grit, they give up and without grit, they become adults who give up easily but also assume everything should be given to them and everything deserves an award. Climbing the ladder and working hard to get there, not necessary. But that’s not how it works. That’s not how you or I got where we did, our parents, or our grandparents. Heck, if not for grit, my family may have remained in Ireland or Italy or Germany. It’s too hard to scrape up the funds to go to America. It’s too hard to learn the English language. It’s too hard to start life anew and move to an unknown place. If Maria felt that way, where would women be? Where would women’s education be? Now that is true grit.

JNLF