Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-08-19
A Girls School in Egypt.

Miss WHATELY, an English educator
and writer, has forwarded the following
interesting description Of q genuine Egyp-
tlan girls school: q had recently an
opportunity of visiting the school for
Egyptian girls, chiefly of the poorer
classes, which, about two years ago, was
founded by one of the wives of His High
ness, the Khedive. The house, which
was built for the purpose, is admirably
suited to the necessities of school life. for
200 scholars are boarderS. 100 being out
slders. 1t is plain and simple in ftIrni-
ture, but in size, holiness and soliditv is
like palace. The marble bathrooms in
a suite, according to Eastern fashion, are
such as Pacha's family might envy, and
in every part of the building air and space
are abundant. The Inspector of Public
Schools, NJ. Dor, gentleman from Swift
zerland, was kind enough to show me all
| the details of the work, and introduced
me to Slit Rosa, the talented and diligent
Superintendent, who is a Syrian lady.
The first set of scholars we saw were in
| room set apart for needlewOrk and en-
broidery of every kind practiced in
Europe, the teacher being a clever
Frenchwoman, who can instruct in
all, from the finest }ace-work, wool
| crochet, ETC., down to the useful
stocking-knitting in which one row of
little girls were diligently engaged. These
children were all dressed in uniform of
plain gray cotton gowns in the Egyptian
shape, girt round with leathern belt {;
their hair plated behind, bright yellow
ribbon tied, snood fashion, over the head
All had shoes and stockings, which at
first had been, | was told, a very disagree
able luxury to the little feet used to
| liberty. In another room a Turkish
teacher was instructing about thirty girls
in the exquisite embroidery of the East
far lovelier, | own, than any European
work, but they are to learn every kind,
and the classes are duly changed. At
halfpast seven O'Clock they work for an
hour, and then again in the forenoon, each
class taking its turn. The progress of the
! little, nimble fingers was quite amazing,
and the specimens of work were deicately
clean and beautifully executed. In a
larger room Moslem Sheik was teaching
reading. Each child had a tin, like
slate, before her on the desk, on
which she wrote sentences at dictation
and read them out in a half chant
according to Mohammedan CUSTOM
The lady superintendent asked if we
would like to hear an arithmetic lesson
/ (she herself teaches this branch), and the
rapidity and correctness of the ten-year-
old Fatmeh who was called out, and who
did long sum on the blackboard, was a
satisfactory proof that they are well taught
Adjoining this classroom was another,
where writing lessons were going on
Here the pupils were younger, averaging
from seven to nine, perhaps. Their
writing struck me as better than usual
with much older children, so far as for
eigner could judge of Arabic writing.
| Their perfect neatness of appearance con-
trasted wonderfully with the dirty, sloven-
ly looks Of the poorer children in Egypt,
and their quiet, good manners were no less
a pleasing change. In the dining-h halls
the long tables were spread with snowy
cloths, and forks for each guest, instead of
fingers. In the laundry Frenchwoman
superintendent, but several girls in turn as
sisted in washing and ironing. The
toughest homework is done by eman-
cipated negress slaves, who receive, in the
afternoons, instruction in reading and sew
ing. The kitchen was, like all the rest,
beautifully clean.'