Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1845-07-24
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THE EDUCATION OF OUR DAUGHTERS.
1t is generally thought necessary that young
men DO educated with especial reference to the
business in which they are to engage. Is one to
be mechanic, tradesman, lawyer, or min
lister of the gospel, nothing, truly, is more pho-
sophcal, or more readily admitted, than that the
education of such an one should be adapted to
1T him for that particular sphere of action
But it is evident that this plain principle has
been more fully adopted and carried out in the
education of the male than the female sex. True,
if the girl is to be milliner, or dress maker,
or taoress, she must be learned her trade, and
If she is favorite of fortune, and "needs not to
work for living" she is probably sent to fash
ionable boarding-school to be educated" But
with all our boosted enlightenment, with all the
attention that has been paid to female education
in the nineteenth century, there are very few
young women properly educated for the stations
they are to fill For this there are two prominent
reasons viz want of proper appreciation of
what female education should be, and the want
of pecuniary means for defraying the expenses of
thorough education, which precludes a large
class of young women from the means of improv-
ment they would gladly onjoy. To offer some
reflections on these two points, we have now
taken up our pen.
To arrive at just conclusion as to what fe-
male education should be, we have only to con-
slider what station young women are educated to
fill. The answer is in the mind Of every one
they are to be the mothers and teachers of our
race, In our Sabbath schools, and schools of
every grade, and pre-eminently in the domestic
circle-the family school--they are to form the
character and control the destiny of the nation
the world. We are aware that in affirming this
we can only echo a truth that is waited on eve
ry breeze, but it must be echoed and re-echoed
till its claims for consideration and consistent ac-
ton are more generally and practically admitted.
True, it is universally admitted that she who is
to become a teacher in the common acceptation
of the term, who is to preside in the seminary or
primary school, must have the adequate scientif
ic knowledge: but who acts upon the principle
that every female, high and low, rich and poor,
should be educated for the great work of teach
ing-of educating others! Who looks at the
down-trodden domestic, as she drudges at her
daily toll, and considers that she will probably
become, in most important sense, the educator
of portion Of the human family; and that she
is even now, in measure, educating those with
whom she associates! Let those who have do
mestcs in their employ, and under their inhu-
ence, think of this, and moved by the dictates Of
an enlarged philanthropy, ask themselves what
they can do to improve their moral and intellec.
tua condition, and thus add to the sum of hui
man virtue and happiness.
Every mother and mistress of family needs
to be prepared to superintend discreetly the do
mestic affairs of her household, and to wisely ed
ucate, physically, intellectually and morally, thu
young minds entrusted to her care. If the edu
cation she has received has not been adapted t.
fit her for these duties, it has been materially de
fective. Nothing short of a correct and thor
ough domestic, physical intellectual and mora
training, can qualify woman for the importan
duties of wife and mother But much YER
much is included in such an education.
1t requires years of the most careful supervis
ion and training in these several department:
1t is not few lessons on the piano, few recita
tons in French and Latin few lines of tn
pencil that can properly educate woman. Nc
is even extended knowledge alone, sufficient
Her education includes all those influences tina
90 to form her character, and all the habits il
which she is trained The right formation an
development Of these, should be the aim Of thos
who educate. The mere imparting and az
quiring of knowledge is but one item i
the great business of education, woma
may be thoroughly versed in scientific lore, an
yet be less educated for her appropriate dutie
than the humble domestic who has taken her lie
sons only in the practical duties of every da
life
But we would by no means discard the ide
of an extended literary course in female educ
ton. On the contrary, we deem this truly des
rable. But we repeat--the most thorough lite
airy requirements cannot atone for the want of
moral and domestic training And we are SUI
ahat every married man of dlscernment and cor
mon sense, will bear concurrent testimony on til
point; and this disastrous experience of multitud
would, if detailed, plead most eloquenty for
correct system of female educaton.-GOH
Rule.