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    208 open councii;.

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    To The Editor Of The English Tvoma?I > S...

    estimate of life and its legitimate aims . In spite of what is said of the still nearl too great y so desire vain a for spirit accomp as lishments formerly ; , they they are are hardl not , y I , believe in many , soug cases ht , for made in

    use always of , stud more ying than , and as who reall require y needed at least recreation that amount for girls of who exercise cannot for the be demand eye , the . hand I confess , and the I should voice , which be very drawing sorry " to , musical see such practice pursuits , and occupy sing ing ing

    less discarded time on . the The whole tendency than of now modern , nor female would education I by any is means setting have towards dancing the to intellectual keep our , j ) and owers I believe balanced that but we there need is the a growing ornamental perception sensibl of y attractive thisand

    on this I rest my hopes . "W ; " e are feeling our way to truth , though as , yet we fail in some important points . One or two shall be specified . First . With all that is said about the value of a thorough knowled

    of our own English language , I do not find that its very beginnings are well ge mastered especiall ; I perhap think s the of geograp same mi h ght hut be said this of matter commencements of English of is every patent sort to ,

    y , , y ; not every linger one who long is enoug concerned h upon with the elements girls' schools and . there Teachers is an of awful Mgh amount repute do of building without a foundation . This appears , by the mistakes in grammar

    and spelling which are made in compositions displaying much knowledge is upon shown subjects , also , ly I ing am beyond afraid , the in a range general of ordinary bareness school and formality -girl teaching of sty . le It ;

    in abrid a gment poor , manner rather of than reproducing of thought a ; lesson and , , secondl an act y of , I mere think memory too many and things are learnt in early life . In maturer years it is refreshment and rest

    youth to pass , but from it one may subject be easil rap y idl exaggerated y to another . Time ; and must so , to be som given e extent for drawing , it is in out reflection on what is learnt . 3 Ierely to acquire is too apt to become the

    all and in various all . Now yet , correct oar own expression language is is gained not reall ; y and mastered this can till never the power be attained of free "by mere re-production of lectures or lessons . I do not _advocate , or expect ,

    good writing before the mind is furnished with material ; but * there may be a considerable accumulation of material without any corresponding power of using it .

    And , secondly , I doubt whether a womanly gentleness is sufficiently cultivated in our present processes of female education . Good manners are p superiority leasant things of , many and kinds I do not slurred like to over see . the It is dues an of age age of , of driving station * and , of

    scrambling and snatching at , advantages ; and living , as we all live , too fast , we find selfishness at the beginning of the eager race . And yet the desire diffused for improvement seems to , me the to love be on of the knowled whole ge better which , toned we now than see in very past widel times y .

    I doubt , whether this improvement and this knowledge are pursued and acquired from the low delight in being admired , which once reigned in

    female hearts . However , by all means let us have the charm of occasional fair repose to . mak This e our restless best fever things of disagreeable work is the . special snare of _oiir time , and bids

    But I am reminded of another section of the middle classes . Let us call it No . 3 . This is a peculiarly unfortunate class . It cannot aspire to the institutions of No . 2 . The expense and the accompanying charges of the

    low college -priced wei _, g and h too too heavil much y under upon the it . clergyman The national or the school committee is , of to course meet , the too else views to of be the proud independent ofat least tradesman set great store and b others their , who freedom , if they from have outw not ard much

    pressure . It seems to , me that this is the class y which should , furnish our national and British school teachers . Those of a lower grade ( actual recipients of the national school "bounty ) are , on the contrary , the class generally offer into

    ing- as pupil teachers or stipendiary _monitoi's , whence they often pass

    208 Open Councii;.

    208 open councii ; _.

• Citation
  • English Woman’s Journal (1858-1864), May 1, 1860, page 208, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ewj/issues/ewj_01051860/page/64/