The Kinder-garten: Principles of Froebel's System and their bearing on the education of women; also, remarks on the higher education of women

Green cloth 12mo, 112pp. Near Fine with mild rubbing and bumping to extremities. Occasional pencil marginalia, an overwhelmingly clean and crisp copy.

Shirreff was a pioneer of women's education who co-authored many earlier publications with her sister, Maria Grey. Together they established the Girls' Public Day School Company and the Women's Education Union, advocating for the professionalization of women teacher training. Their 1850 Thoughts on Self-Culture, Addressed to Women "argued that defective education and inactive lives were the main reasons for women's lack of power, and that acceptance of the 'degrading error' of marriage as being indispensable to women's happiness prevented self-improvement and independence." (see: The Feminist Companion to Literature in English, p. 978).

Contents: Fröbel's system of education; General training for little children; Fröbel's gifts; Fröbel's gifts continued; Principles of Fröbel's system; Fröbel's system in relation to ordinary schools; Fröbel's system in relation to industrial training and the life of the people; Fröbel's appeal to women; Remarks on the higher education of women; Explanation of term "higher education;" Essential studies: physiology, nursing and general care of health, mental philosophy and application to education, social economy, charities, influence on politics; Subjects open to choice: literature, history, science.