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Footnote 1:
Miss Strongitharm states in respect of the Governesses’ Institution at
Manchester—“Remember that those who register here are the favourable
specimens of the class, the governesses who accept salaries under
£20,—and their name is Legion,—being excluded by the Rules of the
Institution, and that the salaries asked by no means represent, in
most cases, the salaries obtained—a governess being often too glad to
get a home on almost any terms.”
Footnote 2:
The condition of governesses in schools is, on the whole, better than
in private families; they have more companionship and independence,
and, except in the very poor schools, are better paid.
Footnote 3:
Census for England and Wales. Vol. ii. Occupation of the people:
summary tables.
Footnote 4:
“In one of Jerrold’s sketches, Mr. Isaac Check is asked, ‘What can you
do?’ Now as Isaac had not dined for three days, he thought himself
justified in saying—‘_Anything._’ Hunger thus conferred the cheap
diploma of omnipotence: why not of omniscience too? In a bitter moment
I have been tempted to say that a governess is too often a poor lady
who knows nothing, and teaches everything for nothing.”—_Dr. Hodgson._
Footnote 5:
“I have preached,” says Theodore Parker, “the equivalency of man and
woman—that each in some particulars is inferior to the other, but, on
the whole, mankind and womankind, though so diverse, are yet equal in
their natural faculties; and have set forth the evils which come to
both from her present inferior position.... But I have thought she
will generally prefer domestic to public functions, and have found no
philosophic or historic argument for thinking she will ever incline
much to the rough works of man, or take any considerable part in
Republican politics.”
Footnote 6:
F. Newman.
Footnote 7:
I have spoken of the incompetency of a vast number of teachers, an
incompetency sometimes natural, more often the effect of want of
training. But I believe it is widely acknowledged that women generally
have a great aptitude for teaching boys as well as girls. Mr. Bryce,
in his Report, says, “The bright point in this otherwise gloomy
landscape is that women are naturally skilful teachers, and that they
are, as far as my observation goes, zealous and conscientious
teachers. Whenever I happened to hear the teaching of a lady of good
ability who had herself been thoroughly educated, its merits struck me
as at least equal, and probably superior, to those which would be
found in the teaching of a man of the same general capacity and
education. Women seem to have more patience as teachers, more
quickness in seeing whether the pupil understands, more skill in
adapting their explanations to the peculiarities of the pupils’ minds,
and certainly a nicer discernment of his or her character. They are
quite as clear in exposition as men are, and, when well trained, quite
as capable of making their teaching philosophical. I must confess
myself to have been also impressed by the interest which they so often
took in their pupils, and their genuine ardour to do their best for
them.”
Footnote 8:
“Is not this the fast that I have chose? to loose the bands of
wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go
free, and that ye break every yoke; is it not to deal thy bread to the
hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy
house?”—Isaiah lviii. 6, 7.
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