The Education of American GirlsBrackett, Anna C. (Anna Callender)
General
The Education of American Girls
Brackett, Anna C. (Anna Callender)
Women -- Education -- United States
The amount of intellectual labor required is about six hours a day; that
is, two recitations of forty-five minutes each, and four hours and a
half spent in study. As a rule, only two studies are pursued at a time.
There are but four recitation days in the week, a fifth being devoted to
composition and general business. The day of recreation is Wednesday, an
arrangement which is somewhat unusual, and might not be convenient for
schools composed in part of day-scholars. Here, however, the holiday
interposed in the middle of the week serves to lessen the danger of too
protracted application to study, and makes the last two recitation days
as easy as the first.
The health of the pupils is under the care of the lady physician
residing in the family. She is assisted by a teacher who superintends
the diet and nursing of invalids. Besides the frequent suggestions in
regard to the care of health, which the Principal addresses to the
school, special instructions are given by the physician to her classes
in physiology. The pupils are particularly cautioned against exposure of
health by insufficient protection of the person from cold or dampness,
by running up or down stairs, or by sleeping in unventilated rooms. All
are required to retire before ten P.M., and advised to choose an earlier
hour as far as practicable. Daily out-door exercise, for at least half
an hour, is required, except when inclement weather or ill-health may
prevent. Light gymnastics are practised by all except individuals who
have been permanently excused by the physician. All are directed,
however, to abstain from gymnastics at certain periods, as well as from
long walks, or severe physical exertion of any kind. It has not been
found that regular and moderate study at such times is injurious to
girls in ordinary health. The pupil is always excused from lessons if
she finds herself unable to study, which of course may often be the case
with those of delicate and excitable temperament, or unsound health.
It is generally known that the ordinary house-work of the seminary
family is performed by the young ladies, under the supervision of the
teachers and matrons. But so many erroneous ideas have prevailed in
regard to the amount of labor required of each pupil, that it seems
necessary here to repeat explanations often given before.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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