Sir – Rachel Bayne’s excellent article about the 40th anniversary of Oxford’s male colleges welcoming women (April 24) has an incorrect heading.
Strictly speaking, co-education was nothing new. It should, more strictly, be called co-residence. This is a common mistake which persists like many Oxford myths.
Ever since Oxford admitted women to the University of Oxford there has been co-education and lectures and seminars have been open to both sexes.
During the Second World War when there was a shortage of younger tutors who were on war service, undergraduates of both sexes often shared classes and seminars.
What was new was men and women living in the same buildings. This is co-residence. Education has been shared for 100 years.
Nevertheless, I have no illusions and fear that expecting the right word to be used may be another of Oxford’s lost causes.
Ann Spokes Symonds, Oxford
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