EXTRACTS FROM THE REPORT OF THE
INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF WOMEN
ZURICH, MAY 12 - 17, 1919
Published by the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom,
Geneva, Switzerland.
Resolution VI: Programme on the Status of Women
This congress holds that women cannot make their fullest and most characteristic contribution to the community in any capacity so long as they have not social, political and economic dependence and full opportunity for education and development: it believes that the recognition of women's service to the world, not only as wage-earners, but as mothers and homemakers, is an essential factor in building up of the world's peace.
(pp.98-99)
Resolution III. section 2: International Education Council
Believing that the basis for Peace between nations and within nations is a
fuller and wider education of the peoples, this Congress resolves that a
Permanent International Educational Council be instituted for the purpose of
promoting the idea of world organization and international ethics and
citizenship. The congress asks the officers of the ICWPP to appoint an
International Committee which shall create the machinery, etc.
(pp. 135-136)
On page 137 there is a proposal for an International Normal School with
faculty to be drawn from every country (one man and one woman from
each) and 10 students from each country.
Educational Programme:
The events of the last five years have proved that our civilization has
completely failed. Our lives have been dominated by a purely materialistic
philosophy, by a policy of sheer force and violence. The Women's
International League for peace and Freedom seeks to establish a basis for
a new human civilization. Properly to accomplish this, we must begin with
the education of the peoples. Respect for human life, the sacred character
of the individual personality, must become fundamental in our thinking.
Only men and women of high moral and intellectual standing can be trusted
with so sacred a task.
(p.267)
Creation of an International Spirit Through Education:
Everything which tends to hinder international understanding, to injure
national pride, or to arouse hate and scorn for foreign peoples should be
excluded from text books. The history of civilization should be fundamental
to all instruction; the young shall be made familiar with the evolution of
peoples, and with the lives of great men of all times. Instruction in civics
should develop a world consciousness and give an introduction to the duties
of world citizenship.
The introduction to national literature should go hand in hand with
acquaintance with the masterpieces of other countries.
The preparation and distribution of books exciting to hate should be subject
to the same legal penalties as exist for impure foods. International
commissions to examine such books are proposed.
In future the press cannot, as an international influence, be permitted to
continue in the service of violent and imperialist politics, but must be put
upon a new basis as a factor in the education of mankind.
Instruction in foreign, languages should be supplemented by the introduction
of an auxiliary world-language.
Especial attention should be paid to comparative studies of the psychology
of peoples.
The establishment of a free international university and of an international
normal school is desirable.
The existing exchange of professorships and exchange of students should
be extended. A period of residence in foreign countries should so far as
practicable be required as part of preparation for teaching. Higher schools
for women should train the women as a world-citizen for her responsible
task as mother of humanity.
There should be established in all countries: Numerous clubs, unions and
summer courses for foreigners without distinction of nationality; circulating
libraries for foreign books; internationally organised associations of
professors and students.
Exchange lectures on the experience of various countries in special fields
might become the basis of a permanent institute for international
information.
Development of physical culture should take the form, not of military drill,
but of a method of developing the strength and efficiency of the human
race.
(pp. 268-269)