Wollestoncraft on National Education

Shannon Adcock

Unit 3

LSTD 1243

June 2, 2010

Wollstonecraft on National Education

Mary Wollstonecraft discusses her convictions regarding private school education versus public schooling in a portion from A Vindication of the Rights of Woman. Through her use of metaphors, poetic language, and illustrations she puts forth her ethical argument that boys and girls should be educated in public schools and should not be segregated in the classroom. Wollstonecraft states her opinion by using various literary techniques that capture your attention and draws you into her mind. At the beginning of her argument she reminds readers that when children are brought up in a society of adults, such as the environment of a private school, they are prematurely brought into manhood and their childhood imaginations that grow the mind are stifled (Wollstonecraft chap. 12 par. 1). She clearly sums up her ethical argument so the reader is not left doubting her estimations. Wollstonecraft states very early that she believes in order to educate young boys and girls properly they must me mixed together to study identical subjects (chap. 12 par.1). Wollstonecraft makes her opinions obvious and the reader is not left guessing about her judgments. She goes on to express her concerns that the infrastructure and teaching styles of private education is not conducive to the teaching of children. She also states that the incorporation of religion in private school is also responsible for the degradation of children’s minds. Wollstonecraft also explicates that, “Half the employment of the youths is to elude the necessity of attending public worship; and well they may, for such a constant repetition of the same thing must be a very irksome restraint on their natural vivacity” (chap. 12 par. 10). It is easy to understand that she believes this constant boring schedule of attending to religious duties makes the children resent such activities instead of taking joy in them. The parents and deans of the private schools have set up these religious rituals to help foster a delight for God in children but are instead creating a habit of monotony that becomes tiresome. In one section Wollstonecraft bravely points out that she had once favored private education. Yet through experience she explains that she is led to form a new opinion on the subject. This gives the doubting reader a moment of pause to empathize with her and allows them to pause and possibly reconsider their own opinions. Allowing the reader to identify with her is not only clever but it is also necessary to allow someone with a dissenting opinion to re-evaluate their stance. Wollstonecraft’s primary focus is in regards to the private education in relation to females but she does not fail to address the consequences to the opposite sex. She explains that, “I have dwelt most on such as are particularly relative to the female world, because I think the female world oppressed” (chap. 12 par. 86). Wollstonecraft reasons that women are the first instructors of kids and when not allowed to form their own individuality their deficiencies are placed on the children (chap. 12 par. 81). Her ethical argument is not only clear to understand but she backs up her opinions with examples and reasoned explanations. A crucial part of Wollstonecraft’s argument is the ability to allow the reader to sympathize with her. The use of poetic language engages the reader and gives them pause to consider her argument. Wollstonecraft’s style not only engrosses the reader but also lends her ethical argument credibility. After reading this passage I was able to go online and look up statistics that show mixing genders in a public school actually improves grades (Tel Aviv University). While I do see the advantages of private school, Wollstonecraft properly addresses these concerns and is very effective in convincing her reader.

Works Cited

Tel Aviv University. "Keep Boys And Girls Together In The Classroom To Optimize Learning, Research Suggests." ScienceDaily 14 April 2008. 2 June 2010 <http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080411150856.htm>.

Wollstonecraft, Mary. "Bartelby." Chap. XII. Wollstonecraft, Mary. 1972 The Rights of Woman. Bartelby, n.d. Web. 2 Jun 2010. <http://www.bartleby.com/144/12.html>.