Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-09-04
For the Enquire
PARENTS AND EDUCATION.

PARENTS AND EDUCA loN.
Now that public sentiment in Virginia has
been somewhat aroused OF late, by the recent pa.
triolc exerlions Of many very good and wise
men. in different sections OF our beloved State,
have thought il would moi be amiss 10 call The
attention OF Parents more particularly 10 the sub
iecl of Female Education. So tar as ii relates &c
the education OF the fair daughters OF Virginia
parents are now, and have heretofore been, al
most criminaly careless and Indifferent.
would not be understood 10 intimate that they
have been neglectul in securing 10 their daugh'
ters the first rudimenIs OF education but thai
they DO generally educate them as il the mind Of
the better and lovelier portion OF our race was IN
capable Of high state OF polish, none can deny.
What is YET, perhaps, a more crying evil is The
fact, Ina, they, when an opportunity presents il
sell for finished education, are induced TO be-
lieye that however Strengthened The pecuniary
circumstances OF those who have given their
being. and To whom they look for support, YET
their learning and requirements will never be
called into requisiion, because, torsooh, after
The routine OF schoolroom duties shall have been
discharged, no demand for the fruits OF their la
Dor and application will be made.
Should this be SO? Are you dischareing the
dulles of good citizens or kind parenls2 Are
Won moi holding out false colors TO those Tor whom
il is your duty and no doubt your WISH 10 pro-
vide instruct and counsel? | would say 10 you,
discard your apathy; abandon your false no.
tions and false pride. Let the young women OF
Virginia know and feel that they arc no longer
10 lead listless and inactive life but that they
are hereafter expected TO aid and assist their re-
specliye families so far as their constitutions and
nhn,
indeed, would new era dawn upon The society
anu domestic happiness OF our State-bringing
along in lis train well educated sons, happy ma
,;ons, industrious and sober husbands
Look around you, We parents, and reflect what
numbers of young women there are leading
lives of Incidence, all, TOO, from sheer want OF
employment. Their education being snch, God
save The mark it education YOU can call il, as
10 teach them thar il is dishonorable 10 be en-
poyed. There are, indeed, but few whose con.
Jtion in life is such as to Justify hem in refrain
ing from all kinds OF labor; yet IL Is rare IN
Eastern Virginia to find young lady in employ
men,; but too many, | fear, for The want OF some
profitable calling in life, are disturbed with
thoughts
sThat wiring their souls the live long nights and days.
II matters not if parents are wealthy, yet do
insist that you should so instruct your daughters,
80 educate mem, tnat tney may nold themselves
in readiness for the casualties Of life, and the
vicisitudes and waywardness of fortune.
Ask yourselves which is The most independent,
The young lady who is making her two or three
hundred dollars per year, and whose parents are
in the most Strengthened relations of life, or the
young lady who may be worth some Two or three
thousand dollars, leading life Of so called
| pleasure2
Then cGueats your daughters-emphatcal
educate lhem-educale them 10 take care Of
themselves, and take charge of your schools
Let US cease TO make requi.iton on the North
| for our female teachers. Drive away from then
the false notions that TOO many have relative L
dress. II is truth, as sad as it is true, that tht
young ladies of our Stale are but loo prone Il
hasten through the period Of life allotted for edu
cation and the acquiremen, Of learning, in orde
10 enter upon the intoxicating round Of fashion
able society,"
Fathers and mothers OF Virginia this SHOULD
not be So Upon you The responsibility rests. !
the future mothers of old Virginia are brought VI
in deness, forselul OF economy, what shall W,
expect OF those who are to be the men of anolhe
generation GLAUCON.