English High Schools for Girls. By Sara A. Burstall, M.A.
(Longmans and Co. 4e. 6d.)—This is a complete manual of the subject, the work of one who knows it from beginning to end, and has the power, which this knowledge does not always bring, of viewing it all round. The first chapter forms an admirable introduction ; all the details must greatly depend on our conception of "The Aim of Girls' Education." When some half-century ago what may be called the Renaissance of girls' education began, there was a vehement demand from the leaders of the new movement that girls should receive the same education as boys. That demand has been substantially conceded ; but we are beginning to see that the principle is quite consistent with much variation in detail. The physique of the girl is different; her final cause in the scheme of human life is different. And these differences have to be considered in practice. It is for the general advantage, to take a very simple example, that a girl should matriculate, whether this be the terminus ad quern, or a quo, a year later than a boy,—at seventeen, say, rather than at sixteen. After this we discuss external and internal organisation ; the teacher—when Will women teachers be able to look forward to the great prizes of the profession which are open to men ?—building and equipment ; the Corpus Sanwa, under which heading are some admirable remarks on games ; the Hens Saws, with a special discussion of the curriculum ; method ; discipline—why "summa jus " ?—which is really made more difficult by the exclusion of the sors tertia, caedi ; form management; scholarships, &o., where we have a hint that the transference of pupils from primary schools may be on too large a scale; technical teaching ; and social life. This is a book very much to be commended.
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