THE WYKEHAM JOURNAL 2020
WOKE , WOMEN AND WINCHESTER
CHRIS MATTHEWS ( H , 2011-2016 )
Just in case you didn ’ t catch the memo ,
Winchester ’ s going co-ed , and some people think that means the school has gone woke . Girls at Winchester ? Admitting them officially for the first time in its 639- year history ? Manners Makyth Man … and Woman ?
‘ Woke ’ started out as an American term describing an awareness of racial and wider social injustice . It ’ s now also used by some as a derogatory term to describe people whom they see as too politically correct . The problem is that it ’ s a word that can stop us talking about the real issues .
Winchester should always cherish its acceptance of a wide range of views and its pupils ’ freedom to debate them . People need to be able to discuss and dissect ideas without the fear of being smeared , or worse , silenced . Admitting girls is an opportunity to open up those conversations to new perspectives , ideas and criticisms .
Win Coll is not woke in the derogatory sense of the word ; and perhaps with a great sigh of relief , many Old Wykehamists will acknowledge the community also has more common sense than to change the motto . It ’ s always been ‘ man ’ for mankind .
As the College plans to replace the all-male tradition of many centuries with
Girls at Winchester ? Admitting them officially for the first time in its 639-year history ? Manners Makyth Man … and Woman ? a co-ed sixth form , it ’ s worth revisiting the school ’ s founding principles . It was set up to educate poor scholars who otherwise could not have earned a place at Oxford University . Through the ages , it built its unique reputation as a leading educational establishment on the ethos of freedom of speech , of thought and of good learning . Gender has never been integral to the school ’ s ideals and the system is not so fragile that the presence of girls will destroy an education six centuries in the making .
Winchester has always built on tradition to create a palimpsestic education . There is a tradition of curiosity , of creative and unbounded education — not controlled or regimented but limitless in its nuances and direction . The school is not focused on results — they come as a by-product of a world-leading education . The aim is to create people who can leave with the ability to serve a purpose in society . They need good morals , tact , conversation and creativity . Most of all they must hold the delicate balance between confidence and humility . None of this should be affected by accepting girls at Winchester .
That explains why the conversation I ’ m having with Wykehamists of my generation is less about gender and more about how the planned change may affect the education and experience we enjoyed .
What I found incredible during my time at the school was that almost everyone was a good person . Finding your classic alpha male hotman chatting to a slightly ‘ rel ’ Collegeman wouldn ’ t be surprising . By and large people were
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