LADIES' COLUMN.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 228, 13 June 1872, Page 8

LADIES' COLUMN.

THE EDUCATION OF WOMEN. By Clahe.

In those latter times it has becomo more and more apparent that women as a class do not take toe place in society which it is their duty to fill and adorn. Men complain that our so-called educated women are, in their homes, careless aud indifferent; in society, frivolous and shallow; and that their attainments are put to shame by these of the merest schoolboy. ■Perceiving that these complaints really contain a large amount of truth, society has sent up a cry for higher education for our girls. To the principles of our finishing academies this demand is first directed, and they arc quito willing to meet the difficulty as far as it lies in their power to do so. But how can this be accomplished ? Already the subjects of study are so numerous that it is impossible for one pupil to master tho whole of them thoroughly. Continued application, not only during the five hours in the schoolroom, but in her leisure time, is scarcely sufficient to enable her to keep pace with what is required of her. The most robust are often laid low by the severity of the course ; and those of delicate constitution must inevitably succumb together, or rest contented to be out of tho race. Parents know this, teachers know it, society knows it. but iv spite of all their knowledge, they still call foi^more, more. To the already crowded curriculum, Euclid, Latin, Greek, and rhetoric are added, and a fresh bevy of better (?) educated girls is sent out upon the world. And with what result? Apparently none. Perhaps not once in six months is a girl called upon to use those added accomplishments, and gradually like an old nail rusting in some corner they pass away from her grasp, leaving only the wreck to show what once was there. Evidently, then, it is not something more that is wanted, but something else. Heiein lies the givat mistake. Teachers profess to do much ; they promise to finish what they should only begin. The object of school education is not to make a perfect woman, but to place h^r in such a position that s^te may be able to enter upon any work she may choose with a certain amount of ground work already pro ( n ared.

It is as if you placed a man at the end of a street and giving him a key for every hoiwo, told him to go and choose that in which he would pass his lite. So you give to each boy or girl the rudiments of knowledge as a key to any branch which ho or she may be inclined to follow out. . When a boy leaves school, he doss so, not fancying that he has finished the serious part of life, but; with the idea of bearing his burden, and working his way by some special road to a place in tho wor]d. He may be successful or he may not, but at least one elemert of success is there if he has a special object to which he intends to direct his every effort. A girl, on the contrary, is taught to look forward to leaving- school as a relief from labour, and to her future life, at any rate until she is married, as a long holiday. If she has any idea of further self-improvement, it is one engendered by school-life, and commences with a time-table and a long list of heterogeneous studies, and, as a rule, ends in despair, on account of unavoidable interruptions which impede the road.

To amusements, to fashion, and society, she now turns for relief, and perhaps enters at once into the giddy round in which tho more careless of her associates have already taken their "place. If instead of this she would expend her energies and talents on some one favourite study, she would .be adding a solid pleasure to her present life, preparing a staff for times of need if they should come, and doing her duty to herself and the world. The feeling of independence and self reliance which such a course gives to a woman is of itself a motive power to raise her in society. Of course thero are hundreds of women who do this now, who are obliged to do it for a living ; but this paper refers merely to those' upon whom, it would be a self imposed obligation. To such women there is no lack of subjects for study. Every department of literature and art is open before them, aud light mechanical labour requiring delicacy and skill is always at hand, for thos© whose tastos inclines them to it. To some the University would hold forth the greatest charms, and in time both lawyers and doctors would rise from the ranks of women. The legal profession would perhaps, from its very nature, be an exceptional employment ; but in future years the barbarism of male doctors attending the ladies of our time will bo looked upon as a relic of the darker ages. Tho greatest difficulty in this question is that of marriagp. Of course in tho study of such engrossing subjects as law and medicine, marriage would prove an immense hindrance if not an insurmountable obstacle, but the lighter and more womanly employments such as music, painting, languages, engraving, designing, '&c, might quite easily be made subservient and .supplementary to the ties and duties of domestic llifte t while an old maid would feel her cares very much lightened if her time was occupied by some pleasent and profitable enjoyment. .Domestic education is quite compatible with such studies and would form a pleasant relief and relaxation. One thing tends to bring all such

pursuits into disrepute. 'A young lady who enters earnestly upon any one of them, must learn to be laughed at by her acquaintances of both sexes. The stronger declare that they are afraid to marry such an one in case they may marry her mission, and prefer some youug lady who has no apparent aim but to please and be pleased. If such an object be faithfully carried out, it may form the safest foundation for domestic happiness ; but as a rule, girls who have distinct ideas of the thorough performance of their social and private duties would appear to have the strongest hold on the esteem and respect of all their fellows. The question, at any rate for a woman, resolves itself into this. Shall I prepare myself for marriage alone and run the chance of a miserable life as an old maid, or shall I prepare myself for an independent existence by learning to perform some special work which will occupy my thoughts and bring mo comfort and happiness if I remain unmarried, but which I shall' be obliged to lay aside in the event of my getting married ? Surely the answer is simplr. Itis more easy to give up an employment than to learn one. — " Australasian."