Where girls come first
Subtitle: the rise, fall, and surprising revival of girls' schools
By: Ilana DeBare
Publisher: J.P. Tarcher/Penguin
Published: 2004
Place of publication: New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 392
ISBN-13: 9781585422890
Subjects: History; Femmes; Éducation; Histoire; Girls; Girls' schools; Écoles non mixtes; École non mixte; Geschichte; Mädchenschule; Mädchenbildung; Education; Éducation des femmes
Description: "Twenty years ago, all-girl schools seemed headed for extinction, a minor footnote in the broad story of American education. Today they are experiencing a dramatic revival. In this book, Ilana DeBare interweaves the first complete history of girls' schools in America with her own personal story of cofounding an all-girl school in Oakland, California, in 1999. A rich chronicle of daily life at girls' schools over the past two hundred years, Where Girls Come First also illuminates the strong convictions of parents and educators that have fueled the rise of new all-girl schools throughout the country. It is an important contribution to the current debate over single-sex education in America." "DeBare brings to life the pioneering founders of girls' schools - from Emma Willard, who faced ridicule for daring to teach geometry to girls, to Prudence Crandall, who was jailed for opening a school for African-American girls in the 1830s. With vivid portraits of these brave women, as well as profiles of schools today, this book dismantles many of the lingering myths and misunderstandings about the girls' school experience." "Where Girls Come First is vital reading for anyone committed to helping the girls of today develop into the strong women of tomorrow."--BOOK JACKET.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. [352]-380) and index.
Table of contents: title: Introduction : the laptop and the maypole; title: Radical roots : something from nothing; title: Elite enclaves : the money hunt; title: Finishing and fitting : rigorous or challenging?; title: "God give us girls" : single-sex schools for girls of color : love us, hate us; title: Smashes, crushes, and female friendships : terrifying at the top; title: "The world was breaking open" : location, location, location; title: Revival : seeking students and teachers; title: Catholic schools : historical moments; title: The public school battle : becoming real; title: What's best for girls? : a Julia Morgan morning; title: Girls' schools today; title: Appendix A: Number of girls' private schools in the United States; title: Appendix B.: Prominent alumnae of girls' schools.