Loudon free press. (Loudon, Tenn.) 1852-1855, 1853-10-07
For the Loudon Free Press.
FEMALE EDUCATION

FEMALE EDUCATION.
i Mr. Editor: We occasionally see few ideas
and suggestions relative to Female education.
In late number of your paper appeared an ar.
ticle on that subject. Now / am of opinion
that too little is said, and vastly too little done
relative to this important branch of our public
interest.
Concerning this subject, however. there are
different opinions; yet suppose that most Of
those who speak out are its advocates; those
who entertain opposite feelings, generally have
sense enough to remain silent-their silence.
! however has its influence, at least in those
communities where those individuals reside.
With those spirited devotees of Female Edu-
cation, ] have long since been constrained
to believe, the following exists, viz: A de-
fciency in the prescribed course of instruction;
that is to say, Faculties in female institutions If
learning have been satisfied with presenting
the more superficial sciences Including, It's
true, the general elements of popular instruc-
tion,) and embracing only synopsis of Mathe-
the most Importance.
1t may be remarked generally that those in
situations which are favored with the most thor
ough courses of Mathematical instruction, pre-
sent the world with the most completely finish
ed and practical scholars; and the reassHEery
naturally assigned is, that the science OF Math-
ematics is more appropriately calculated, than
any other to expand the mind and strengthen
the intellect.
Mathematics has the foregoing advantage for
the following reason: in its study the mechanic
cal powers Of the mind are strongly taxed and
regularly disciplined. The memory is contin-
uously employed, and at the same time. the
reasoning faculties in particular, and the other
functions Of the mind in general, are led out
into the most spacious fields imaginable, IN
which the grounds travelled over are those of
the most accurate certainty The Science Of
Mathematics truly Incorporates the highest
principles of Philosophy, Chemistry and Logic
its grounds are properly the foundations on
which most of our popular branches of ltera-
ture rest; and for the reason it should be made
the sine qua non in all our prescribed courses.
We would then ask, is there any sensible rea-
son why the females of our country should not
be thoroughly instructed in the aforesaid sci
ence? Some bigot of his sex might respond,
that their minds were not strong enough to COM
prehend the science fully. If they really lack
the strength of intellect referred, such fact,
would of itself be the strongest argument for
their pursuing the study; yet am, by no means
willing to admit their strength of intellect,
strictly speaking, to be inferior to that of the
males. This, however, must be admitted: that
the male intellect of the country is more strong
ly fortified and strengthened than the female;
yet favor the one with tina same advantages as
the other, and l apprehend you will find the
difference of intellect to be measurably differ
ence of employing it.
The sphere in which one moves compared
with the one assigned the other, would natural
" infer dssimilar intellectual Developments
We generally, and rightfully too, accord to the |
female higher refinement of feeling, in this /
respect, and to that extent we might award her
a degree of intellectual preference. small
thread of silk is frequently possessed of great
er strength than rope composed of crude ma
terials.
We admit, however, that it is difficult to fix
proper rule by which to estimate the relative
strength of different inteects, and be the male
and female intellect equal or dssimilar, this
one truth we hesitate not to assert as such, and
believe, that the female mind has sufficient pow
er to comprehend and know the mysteries of
the most profound science; and hence we would
say in their course of instruction, let the entire
field be opened before them--that whilst they
count the number of species falling under a
geuius of flowers; they may look aloft and
measure the roads from world to world and es
innate the velocity of the comet and its mystic
rious flight across the Heavens.
KINGSTON.