The Education of Catholic Girls

by Janet Erskine Stuart RSCJ, Susie Lloyd (Introduction)

A century after it s first publication, Mother Janet Erskine Stuart s classic The Education of Catholic Girls is back, and it s as relevant and useful as ever! Practical as it is pious, witty as it is wise, this collection of counsels not only helps educators in school or at home meet Catholic girls special intellectual needs, it offers sage strategies for whole-person formation: showing us how to help our girls grow into virtuous Catholic women. Catholic girls among other girls, writes Mother Stuart, and Catholic women among other women, have the privilege as well as the duty of upholding what is highest.

The Education of Catholic Girls will help you teach your girls whether through math and science, needlework, Catholic philosophy, or good manners to uphold what is highest; it will help you train them to live a perfectly honorable and fearless life.

This centenary edition of The Education of Catholic Girls features English translations of the original s foreign phrases and quoted sources (Mother Stuart s presumption about her readers knowledge of Latin, French, and German points to something education has lost over the years), as well as a new preface by Catholic homeschooling author and speaker Susie Lloyd.

Genres: Catholic, Education, Family, Faith, Nonfiction

272 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1914

Reviews

[Susan Molloy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Educational Reading.

🖊 Reverend Mother Janet Stuart, RSCJ (1857- 1914) was an English nun in the order of The Society of the Sacred Heart, a convert to Roman Catholicism, and the founder of many schools. Moreover, she was a prolific writer, penning books on subjects as the education of girls, Catholic faith and praying, poems, The Society of the Sacred Heart, and the like. She travelled the world on a mission, visiting convents in Latin America, Australia, Egypt, et cetera. She was in Belgium with other sisters when the Germans invaded that country at the onset of The Great War.

This intelligently-written book about the education of Catholic girls was clear, educational, and thought-provoking for me. Each topic Reverand Mother Janet Stuart, RSJC presented here was something I could and do relate to. It would do good if these topics were adhered to in today's education, including public.

📕Published — 1914.

CONTENTS:
PREFACE
INTRODUCTION
I. RELIGION
II. CHARACTER. I.
III. CHARACTER. II.
IV. THE ELEMENTS OF CATHOLIC PHILOSOPHY
V. THE REALITIES OF LIFE
VI. LESSONS AND PLAY
VII. . MATHEMATICS, NATURAL SCIENCE, AND NATURE STUDY
VIII. VIII. ENGLISH
IX. MODERN LANGUAGES
X. HISTORY
XI. XI. ART
XII. MANNERS
XIII. HIGHER EDUCATION OF WOMEN
XIV. CONCLUSION
XV. APPENDIX I
XVI. APPENDIX II
XVII. INDEX

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[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Parts of it are dated (like the descriptions and opinions of non-British people so you have to allow that the author is a product of her time), though more of it is timeless. How do we, as adult women, raise our girls in the Faith? What is truly important, and what can be put aside?
Some of the problems of her day, like a decline in manners, is still applicable today. The concept of "manners" being an aspect of religion and the Golden Rule, and not simply arbitrary codes of conduct to appear cultured or genteel, was not an idea I'd pondered before. That insight alone was worth it.
Her opinion on the "small" lives, those unseen in the wide world, those not given recognition and adulation--well, I felt she was talking directly to me.

[Taryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, I loved this book. So many good insights for me to meditate on and use as I educate my girls. There were a couple places where the author is very much a product of her time in a negative way (e.g., she argues that girls cannot be as good at math as boys because they are weaker). But with the perspective of what we know (and still don’t know!) today about gender differences and education, there is still a lot to learn from Mother Janet Erskine Stuart. A lot of what she says about the vocation of women is truly beautiful.

[Ken Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

A pleasant surprise

The book was easy to listen to. I initially thought that it would not hold my attention. Surprisingly I reached the end of the book which has a large index. Dear Janet Erskine Stuart a simple note of gratitude. I hope many others avail themself of this fine book.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

After slogging thru Edith Stein’s commentary on education for women, this was a breeze. The first chapters are the best, regarding the character and virtue the teacher of Catholic girls must have. The final chapters on subject areas are more vague than I would’ve wished. The book cemented some ideas I’d already had, but didn’t give me any new breakthroughs.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. So much wisdom for anyone involved in the education of children (not only girls)- I’m sure I will return to it often for encouragement and guidance.