Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1885-12-18
EDUCATION OF GIRLS.
Discussion of tho Question OF tho CuItivn
Tim nf nnnta Mind.

Discussion of tho Question OF tho CuItivn-
tion of woman's Mind.
The question as TO how far woman's
mind should be cultivated is still vexed
one, and 1t is likely to remain so, for IL
is q very difficult one to decide. This
truth has become enforced upon the
minds Of all thinkers who have pom
dered at all upon the important point
of female education. Every girl is not
to be teacher in the future--at least,
che is not entirely to devote herself to
teaching rs profession, although
some are so destined. For such girls
as these-the mathematical, classical
or head mistresses of the future for our
female colleges and higher schools-it
is quite right that they should devote
themselves to special subjects and be-
come as proficient in their special
branch of study as they possibly
can, for, of course, a good teacher
should know far more than her pupils
require If she is to be efficient. But,
on the other hand, the greater part of
the girls submitted to good course of
study are intended for no profession
at all.
It is highly important, in educating
a girl from her childhood to be an eff
cient, sclf-reliant woman, that her hand
should be trained to be useful. OF
course, the details of her education
should be arranged in consideration of
the social position which she will prob
ably eventually occupy. In ordinary
cases the hand should be rs carefully
trained rs the brain; for, to fulfil the
ordinary duties which fall to the lot of
average women, useful hand is abso-
lutely necessary. Girls who have the
advantage of studying at our female
colleges and high schools do not, as a
rule, belong to wealthy circles where
every domestic duty is performed by
servants. The generality of such girls
will not, when then are married, have
staff of servants and a housekeeper to
look after them; they will have to be
their own housekecpers for the most
part. In such household as this the
wife must assist if all is to go well, and
her head and hands must be the chart
and helm of the domestic ship.
With reference to the education of
the mind, unless intended for special
teacher, all the energies should not be
specially devoted to one subject unless
there be promise of great results. In
an ordinary college course girl can
acquire sufficient Latin to translate
with some ease and to become partially
acquainted with some of the best wri-
ters. This is desirable knowledge,
as it helps greatly to a thorough
knowledge of her own tongue, assists
the requirement of many foreign Ian
guages and rouses liking for litera-
ture beyond the novels of the day.
Geometry and higher arithmetic strong
ly improve the reasoning powers, and
she who even knows the first four
books of Euclid and can work problems
upon them, will have acquired power
of reasoning which will stand her in
good stead. She will be more likely to
be methodical, to keep her house
hold in after life in due but easy order,
and, what is very important in house
hold of moderate means, will keep due
and restricting account of all spent.
A well stocked and well ordered
brain will keep her above small wor.
ries, and will therefore check irritable.
ty and weak repinings against the in
evitable. The whole tone of her mind
will be improved; she will enjoy books
which an equally intelligent but less
well trained mind would never dream
of reading, and thus will have an un.
failing source of pleasure which is lost
to others. Domestic troubles do not
weigh so heavily upon her, as she is
generally perfectly able to take care OF
herself; and when thrown upon her
own resources she can generally man.
age to help herself, while the woman
who can turn her hands and brain to
nothing more useful than fancy needle.
work becomes burden to her friends.
How much better it is to learn some.
thing useful and turn it to account,
even in youth, when all seems bright
and prosperous. When, in times OF
trouble, father or husband leaves a
lonely, struggling wayfarer to face the
world, what better capital can she have
to support herself and those dependent
upon her than the well stocked brain
and useful hands which open to her
many method of earning livelihood.
IN. Y. Herald.