The Renaissance of Girls' Education in England: A Record of Fifty Years' Progress

								


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                    RENAISSANCE OF GIRLS’ EDUCATION

                                  THE

               RENAISSANCE OF GIRLS’ EDUCATION IN ENGLAND

                   A Record of Fifty Years’ Progress

                            BY ALICE ZIMMERN



                      (GIRTON COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE)


AUTHOR OF ‘METHODS OF EDUCATION IN AMERICA,’ ‘OLD TALES PROM GREECE,’

                                  ETC.

                                 London



                         A. D. Innes & Company



                                Limited



                                  1898

        Edinburgh: T. and A. CONSTABLE, Printers to Her Majesty

                                PREFACE

To all whom it may interest I dedicate this brief summary of the events
which have wrought a peaceful revolution among us during the last fifty
years. Among the many changes of the half-century, the great
transformation in the education of women surely deserves a record. The
workers have been many, the help given of various kinds, yet no event is
isolated, for all are links in one chain of progress. Fifty years ago a
few far-sighted men and women gave the impetus; we who harvest where
they sowed may like to be reminded, in this season of retrospects, of
the great debt we owe them. What has touched the lives of so many women
is the concern of all, and though I shall be proud indeed if my book
prove welcome to teachers, I should wish most of all to address myself
to that old and long-tried friend of literature, the general reader. If
he, or she, can be persuaded, to spend an hour or two, learning the past
and present of the education of our girls, my purpose will have been
accomplished.
To thank for favours received is a pleasant task, but the list of those
who have helped me with this book would prove too long for enumeration.
I desire to offer my heartiest thanks to all who have assisted me with
information, criticism, or in any other way; especially to Miss Beale
for valuable materials and kind hospitality, to Mrs. Bryant and Miss A.
A. M. Rogers for much useful information, to Miss Mary Gurney, Miss Ella
Pycroft, Miss Mary Kennedy, and Mr. W. Edwards for reading portions of
the book, and to Mrs. Edwards for her sympathy and kindness during my
stay in Wales. To the many headmistresses who have allowed me to visit
their schools I offer most cordial thanks, and last, but not least, to
the officials of the Education Library, in particular Mr. Sadler and
Miss Beard, for their courtesy and helpfulness.



                                                          ALICE ZIMMERN.



                        September 1898.

                                CONTENTS