The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1866-10-31
THE EDUCATION OF GIRLS.

GhS ooUJOSG vi AuONttIHOAh III SNN
raj, and that of boys in particular.
A few remarks in reference to the
Education of Girls may not be out
Of place. Ifthere is error in the
system Of education for boys in
this country, there is much more
=. in that of girls, They are taught
only such branches as fit them for
gay and frivolous society-as fill
them with pride and vanity-an
imperfect idea of the English Ian
guage, a false system ofmusic, and
a little fancy work. With some,
,thesame crowding process, as with
the boys, is adopted, and they are
taught multitude of fittings which
are ofno particular value to them
whatever
We do not propose to shut up
the young ladies in hot houses, or
steam them over cooking stoves,
.or.subject, them to long, dull ser
mons day after day ; but VIC sug-
gest the adoption Of q system that
will eradicate all false pride, that
will fit them for the duties of the
household, that will prepare them
for the responsibilities which they
must some day assume as wives
and mothers. Under such sys-
tenn rs this, it were better for the
pupil not to be sent to q distant
boarding-school, but kept at home
under the -watchful eye and care
of the parent. or guardian. She
should be practically instructed in
the art Of housekceping-not ne
ccssary the drudgery Of the kitch-
en-, but everything that will tend
to fit her to supcrintend all such
work when she comes to woman
hood. She should betaught coarse
sewing as well as fine ncedlc-work. !;
and in. education, q thorough
knowledge ofthe English language
should be impaired ; with this,
music should not be neglected, but
taught in such a way as to i'm
prove and interest the pupil. Slo-
7yenly and tirolcss humping on
piano or guitar is harsh and gra-
ting to the ears Of a listener; and
to avoid, this, there must be per-
sistant and earnest practice.
-, If there is time enough and,
means enough to complete the
youngsladics' education, she might
then be taught the higher branch
es-such as the classics, etc, But
there is so much to engross the
mindsand occupyTthe time of the
pupil in the studies already mon
toned, and young ladies marry
early in this country, that to crowd,
more uponsher attention-w be
unjust and proftlcss.
=. A book, entitled "The Higher
Education of Women" has just
been published in London 1t
contains some excellent sugges-~
tions upon the. subject, which VIC
have now under consideration;
and in the following paragraph
will be found some ideas worthy
reconsideration .-
In the Education of Girls the Sc
lection of subjects seems to be di-
rected by no principle whatever.
Strong protests are raised against
assimilating it to that Of boys, but
very little is said as to the particu-
lars in which it ought to differ.
The present distribution is, indeed,
somewhat whimsical. Inasmuch
as young men go into Offices where
they are to conduct foreign CORES
pondence, and, as they travel
about all over the world, they are
taught the dead languages. AS a
woman's place is the domestic
hearth, and as middlc-class wo-
men rarely ever see a foreigner,
they are taught modern languages
with a special view to facility in
speaking. As men are supposed
to work with their heads all day,
and have nothing in the world to
do when they are indisposed for
reading, but to smoke or go to
Sleep they are taught neither mu-
sic or drawing, AS women have
always the resource ofneedloword,
they learn music and drawing be-
sides, AS swomen are not expected
to take part in political affairs,
they are taught history; as men