In conclusion, Maria Edgeworth was one of the few authors who emphasized the significance of the roles of educators. Her novels are morally and socially driven with a message and hope for young women to become self sufficient and higher order thinkers. Edgeworth believed in progressive education and was not
in favor of traditional education. In her book Practical Education (1798) she discusses how variety while teaching is best for the students. Instead of focusing only on one topic and “boring” students to death, she believes that educators should focus on varying lessons and topics in order to keep students attention. She believes that people, especially children, are only able to “truly” focus on one thing at a time, and while educators are varying their lessons, they need to keep in mind that “while variety relieves the mind, the objects which are varied must not all be entirely new, for novelty and variety when joined, fatigue the mind", Edgeworth.
Furthermore, Edgeworth proclaims that the teaching of children should require specific methods, appropriateness and proper sequencing, and most importantly, empowering and enabling instruction, not fatiguing or disabling instruction. During the 18th century, women were objectified and were to be pretty and silent. Roles were limited to home-makers, school teachers, and
care-takers and higher order thinking was not something that was of great importance. Little girls were pretty and were expected to grow up and become pretty women. Edgeworth, however, did not limit herself to societal norms, and
she voiced her opinions of the importance of self sufficiency and critical thinking through characters in her writings. In the Purple Jar, the little girl wanted the pretty seemingly purple jar, however she knew quite well that she needed a new pair of shoes. In Rosamaond’s Day of Misfortunes, the little girl decided to stay in bed late, however she knew that she needed to get up and begin her day. Both stories involve a female child making her own decisions, even though they aren’t “good” decisions, they are her own decisions and I believe that the ultimate purpose of Edgeworth’s writings is to educate women, beginning with young girls. If we’re able to educate young girls at the very beginning of their school years, then they will grow up to be higher order thinkers, rather than artificially programmed dependent “ladies”.
in favor of traditional education. In her book Practical Education (1798) she discusses how variety while teaching is best for the students. Instead of focusing only on one topic and “boring” students to death, she believes that educators should focus on varying lessons and topics in order to keep students attention. She believes that people, especially children, are only able to “truly” focus on one thing at a time, and while educators are varying their lessons, they need to keep in mind that “while variety relieves the mind, the objects which are varied must not all be entirely new, for novelty and variety when joined, fatigue the mind", Edgeworth.
Furthermore, Edgeworth proclaims that the teaching of children should require specific methods, appropriateness and proper sequencing, and most importantly, empowering and enabling instruction, not fatiguing or disabling instruction. During the 18th century, women were objectified and were to be pretty and silent. Roles were limited to home-makers, school teachers, and
care-takers and higher order thinking was not something that was of great importance. Little girls were pretty and were expected to grow up and become pretty women. Edgeworth, however, did not limit herself to societal norms, and
she voiced her opinions of the importance of self sufficiency and critical thinking through characters in her writings. In the Purple Jar, the little girl wanted the pretty seemingly purple jar, however she knew quite well that she needed a new pair of shoes. In Rosamaond’s Day of Misfortunes, the little girl decided to stay in bed late, however she knew that she needed to get up and begin her day. Both stories involve a female child making her own decisions, even though they aren’t “good” decisions, they are her own decisions and I believe that the ultimate purpose of Edgeworth’s writings is to educate women, beginning with young girls. If we’re able to educate young girls at the very beginning of their school years, then they will grow up to be higher order thinkers, rather than artificially programmed dependent “ladies”.