Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864, 1856-10-18
Bow and Girla.


Mrs. jameson, in her " Cormcn Place Cook Of
Thoughts, Memories and Fancies,'' saws:
am convinced from my own recollections, and
from all have learned from experienced teachers
IN large schools, that of the most fatal mistakes
IN the training of children has been the early sep
araton OF the sexes. say has been, because find
that everywhere this most dangerous prejudice has
been giving way before the light of truth and n
more genial acquaintance with that primal law of
nature, which ought to teach US that the more we
can assimiate large scale the public TO the do
mestic training, the better for all. There exists
still the expression-in the higher classes especial
y, that In early education, the mixture Of the two
sexes would tend to make the girls masculine, and
the boys eHemlnate; but experience shows that it
is all the other way. Boys learn manly and pro-
tecting tenderness, and girls become at once more
feminine and more truthful.
Where this association has begun early enough,
that is before FIVE years DID, and has been continued
till about ten or twelve, it has uniformly worked
well. On this point the evidence is unanimous and
decisive. So long ago as 1872 Francis Homer, in.
describing a school he visited at Eamore, near
Bridgewater, speaks with appreciation of the boys
and girls standing up together in the same class il
is the first mention find o. rhis innovation on the
old collegiate charity school plan, in itself con-
tinuation of the monkish discipline.N He says, 81
like much the placing ofboys and girls together at
an early age; it gave the boys new spur of emula
IiOH' w Heu nave seen q ClaSS OF glTlS standing
together, there has been sort of empty ttterng,
vacancy in the faces, inerthess, which made of
it as thought, very up hill work for the teacher;
so when it was class of boys, there has been often
sluggishness-a tendency to ruffian tricks-requir-
ing perpetual effort on the part of the master.
In teaching a class of boys and girls accustomed
tn stand together there is little nothing of this
They are brighter, reader and better behaved there
is kind of mutual influence working for good; and
if there be emulation, it is not mingled with envy
or jealousy. Mischief, such as may be apprehend-
ed, is in this far less likely 10 arise than where
boys and girls, habitually separate from infancy,
are first thrown together just at the age when the
feelings are awakened and the association hns all
the excitement of novelty. A very intelligent
schoolmaster assured me that he has no trouble
with class of fifty boys and girls together, lin the
midst Of which found him, and that there were
Inconvenience resulting which wise, careful, and
efficient superintendent cannot control. SThere
IS, said he, 'not only more emulation, more quick
of brain, but, altogether superior healthineSs
OF tone, body and mind, where the boys and girls
trained together till about ten years old, and il
extends in their after life. should say because il
is in accordance with the laws of God in forming
us for mutual dependence for help from the very
beginning of life.''
What is curious enough, find many people
fathers, mothers, teachers, who are agreed that in
the schools of the lower classes, the two sexes
may be safely and advanta geously associated, yet
have sort of horror of the idea Of such innovation
in schools for the higher classes. One would like
to know the reason for such distinction, instead
of being encountered as is usual, by sneer or a
vile inuendo.