SATURDAY

REVIEW
April 16, 1865

EDITORIAL By Charlotte Adams

Separate Spheres
Across most classrooms in
Victorian England, there is a portrait of
our lady, Queen Victoria and a map of the
world. The red colored countries
highlight the robust power of the British
Empire. The irony is the British Empire
would not exist without the classroom
because education leads to power.
Unfortunately, there is an inequality of
education opportunities especially
between genders. Our country would
sustain world power if education
developed equal standards. These
separate spheres are a Victorian hypocrisy
demonstrates the unfair circumstances in
schools between males and females
through attitudes of moral pretension,
conformity, and evasion.
The idea of moral pretension, or
discrepancy, is seen through the types of
schools available for each sex. There are
higher standards for the aristocrats
especially males. The British School
available to the working class typically
educates females for approximately 2- 3
years. In fact, the literacy rate, measured
by signature or X on the marriage
registry, for males at 67% and females
51%. Working class males, farmers and
businessmen, can continue schooling in
secondary or vocation schools and learn
subjects other than reading, writing, and
arithmetic. For the aristocrats, females are
educated by governesses or in private
homes. The males may attend boarding
public schools and continue to prep
schools and universities. This discrepancy
leads to unfair education for females.
Conformity is seen with social
expectations. As Victorians, there is a
strong sense of proper due to our
traditions. This impacts the goal of

education and is different between the

sexes. The female role in our society is to
prepare for family and social life.
Working class females learn skills
through apprenticeships, needlework, and
training at home. Aristocratic females
acquire skills in manners, postures,
proper speech, and communication skills.
Working class men learn vocations and
public service while the elite men finish
from Oxford and Cambridge for
engineering, medicine, military, or other
professions. Going against conformity,
two young women signed up for lectures
on electricity at London University in
1832. English lecturer, Henry Morley, is
attempting to help women lectures and
work. By changing this conformity, the
goal of education for females can
strengthen our country as a world power.
Finally, avoiding the issue of
inequality of education for females can
see the notion of evasion. We cannot
ignore this dilemma to protect and not
cause harm. From our Christian belief,
every person should be treated fairly.
There should not be separate classrooms
for males and females. Females should
not look after younger siblings while
attending school. Our strong country
should decide how to educate all children,
and not leave it up to each father.
Families should not sacrifice and spend
all their money on their sons education.
Females do not need more protection,
and can successfully board and attend
schools. The Victorian hypocrisy exists in
our classrooms. Our power as a country is
impacted by education. Parliament should
set education standards for both sexes and
provide opportunities to all. By changing
our attitudes with education, both males,
females, and ultimately, our country and
world empire will prevail.