美國人物志:女子教育的先行者 瑪莉·里昂 (9/9)

The school continued to grow. More students began to attend. The size of the building was increased. And, all of the students were required to study for four years instead of three. Mary Lyon was head of the school for almost 12 years. She died in 1849. She was 52 years old. She left behind a school of higher education for women. It had no debt. And it had support for the future provided by thousands of dollars in gifts. In 1893, under a state law, Mount Holyoke Female Seminary became a college. Mount Holyoke College was the first college to offer women the same kind of education as was offered to men. People who have studied Mary Lyon say she was not fighting a battle of equality between men and women. Yet she knew she wanted more for women. Her efforts led to the spread of higher education for women in the United States. Historians say she was the strongest influence on the education of American young people during the middle of the 19th century. Her influence lasted as the many students from Mary Lyon's schools went out to teach others.