Female education of the upper and middle classes in the 17th century England
In England the traditions of female education were formed over the centuries, and have survived to the present day. First of all, many educational institutions in England adhere to the idea of separate education of boys and girls, which serves a better education, according to school leaders. The most powerful argument in favor of separate education of boys and girls remains the same as it was one or two hundred years ago – boys and girls are more focused on learning being apart from each other. In addition, boys need a competitive environment more than girls who prefer cooperation and teamwork. In the XVII century female education becomes more widespread than in previous centuries. This century is characterized by an increase in the number of women’s educational institutions, changes in the goals and contents of female education, changes in the attitude to the female education and the role of women in the family and society, which were largely infl uenced by historical events – the English Revolution of the 1640s, the Republic under Cromwell, the Restoration, religious persecution, the ideas of the Enlightenment. The article presents the results of theoretical studies of the features of middle and upper class women education, types of women educational institutions existed in the XVII century, subjects studied there, and specifi cs of home education.
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