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Women's Education in the 18 th Century

Women's Education in the 18 th Century. By: Ocean-Leigh Peters, Tomalyn Young and Leanne Fancy . “It was in fact a matter of pride that English Women had so quickly become the most literate and refined of any nation on earth” – Miller Women’s Education “Self Improvement” .

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Women's Education in the 18 th Century

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  1. Women's Education in the 18th Century By: Ocean-Leigh Peters, Tomalyn Young and Leanne Fancy “It was in fact a matter of pride that English Women had so quickly become the most literate and refined of any nation on earth” – Miller Women’s Education “Self Improvement”

  2. Basic Education for Young Ladies • Depended on the governess and the teachers • Unsystematic and haphazard • Private libraries • Practical education to prepare them for mother and wifehood • Boarding schools

  3. Basic Education for Young Ladies cont… • In 1770 at St. Anne’s College the curriculum for women consisted of: • Studying the Bible • Training in accounting and household management • Translation practice in French and English • Botany • Geology • Astronomy • Geography • Study of history, particularly the British Empire

  4. Boy’s education vs. girl’s education • Education was based on sexual differences • Classical and non-classical education • Men were considered smarter than women • Boys received better books than girls • “The very structure of a woman’s mind renders her incapable of profound thought and careful reasoning”- John Bennett

  5. Boarding schools • Day Boarders: meals were provided • Day Scholars: provided their own meals • Schooling equaled social advancement and marriage for young ladies • Fees: basic fees were 100-200 pounds, cheaper schools were 40-60 pounds • More money, more education

  6. Charity schools • SPCK: Society for the Propagation of Christian Knowledge • Education for the poor • “Object of Charity” • Girls curriculum: knitting stocking and school uniforms, embroidery, ironing, laundry duties, cleaning the school rooms, and the fundamental rules of arithmetic. • “Housewifery” education

  7. Charity schools cont… • Wait lists • St. James Westminster, St. Anne’s, Cripplegate Ward School, St. Saviors

  8. Priscilla Wakefield’s education Proposal • 1st Degree: for the nobility • Take place at home or in expensive boarding schools • Should have the best education • Girls were encouraged to support charities and improve their mind • No educational topic was off limits • A lady from the nobility should: • “devote her time, her talents, and her fortune to the improvement of public morals, and the increase of public happiness” - Miller

  9. Priscilla Wakefield’s education Proposal cont… • 2nd Degree: the wealthy middle class • Day or domestic education for young ladies • Cooking, medicine, dressmaking, infant rearing, arithmetic, English, bookkeeping, and drawing • Once married should/would study her husband business • Interest in charities like noble women

  10. Priscilla Wakefield’s education Proposal cont… • 4th Degree: the laboring poor • Charity, Sunday or Industrial schools • Practical education for their class • 3rd Degree • Day schools to learn reading, writing, arithmetic, history and needlework • Taught modesty, humility, and sobriety • Earn their own living

  11. Mary Wollstonecraft • Born: April 27, 1759 • Died: September 10, 1797 • Mother of Mary Shelly who wrote Frankenstein • Feminist philosopher • An author of novels, treaties, travel narratives, history of the French revolution, conduct literature and a children’s book • Written works involving the education of women: “Thoughts of the Education of Daughters”, and “Vindication of the Rights of Women”

  12. Mary Wollstonecraft Cont…“Thoughts on the education of daughters” • Education for middle class children • Discipline, honesty, frugality, social contentment and reason

  13. Mary Wollstonecraft cont…“A Vindication of the rights of woman” • Women only appear inferior to men due to a lack of education • Men and women are equal in the eyes of God • Appropriate education for your place in society • Power to the middle class • Women are powerful and important in their own way • Lack of education is bad for women, their children and their husbands

  14. Jean Jacques Rousseau • “Without virtuous wives and mothers, there can be no virtuous people nor virtuous nation. It is in women that patriotism and morality depend” – Jean Jacques Rousseau • Powerful voice of feminism • Influence on education for girls • Girls did not want to learn, a “natural” dislike

  15. Jean Jacques Rousseau cont… • The “Emile” • Details Rousseau’s philosophy on education • Rooted in the idea that humans are basically good • Education should cultivate out natural tendencies • Important moral lessons for women and children • Education means better engagement in society • Enlightenment thinker • Humans are good by nature • Corrupted by historical events • Difficulty with authorities over his works such as the “Emile” • Influenced by Immanuel Kant

  16. Jean Jacques Rousseau cont… Sophie in The Emile • Sophie’s education is different than Emile’s • Submissive to Emile • Training for womanhood • Drawing, writing, counting, reading, art of pleasing, religion and reason

  17. Thanks for watching! We hope you enjoyed your 18th century education

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