I have been so inspired lately as I wash dishes, but then when I come to my computer to write, I am distracted by messages and mail, or too tired and forgetful to apply myself to writing my thoughts.
One thing I have been considering, is the value and importance of highschool subjects that are commonly taught and whether or not they need to have their place. Chad reported to me a teaching by Kevin Swanson regarding this. He said something to the effect that girls learn geometry in school, but don't know how to calm a baby, respect their husbands or manage the families finances. --All topics essential to family harmony and happiness.
Now it seems common sense, although it is not the world's common sense, that a young girl should learn first things first. If we teach to the common experience and not to the exceptions, then girls should learn how to be married, how to parent and how to run a household before such specialities as Geometry, Chemistry, or Pre-Algebra. To this day I have never used matrices. Not only have I not need to balance a chemical equation in real life, but I have been struggling to learn the studies most important to having a family. Have we the whole thing upside down?
Many things can be learned as an adult. Chad taught himself the profession he now uses to support six people. I have had to add married couples groups, marriage books, respect & love videos, parenting books, parenting seminars, etc to my life to catch up on studies that are Essential to my life. So backing up--Which things are necessary for teens to learn as teens?
Along this line, I have discovered through The Journal of Esther Edwards Burr (daughter of the evangelist Jonathan Edwards and mother of the Vice President Aaron Burr, jr.) that in early colonial times "Housewifery" was an apprenticeship just like that of the Blacksmith or Printer. Homes in need gained support and girls gained skills. By the time Esther married at age 20, she could run a home with apprentices, servants/slaves, and children while entertaining house guests nearly constantly (her husband was a pastor and head of a college).
What value did early colonists ascribe to the position of a woman in the home?
What investment did they make in these young girls' preparation?
Have we in our attempt to become equal with men in position, lost our own? Has society put a stumbling block in the path of youth so that their families and marriages fail due to lack of preparation? How can we reinvent education for youth?
One thing I have been considering, is the value and importance of highschool subjects that are commonly taught and whether or not they need to have their place. Chad reported to me a teaching by Kevin Swanson regarding this. He said something to the effect that girls learn geometry in school, but don't know how to calm a baby, respect their husbands or manage the families finances. --All topics essential to family harmony and happiness.
Now it seems common sense, although it is not the world's common sense, that a young girl should learn first things first. If we teach to the common experience and not to the exceptions, then girls should learn how to be married, how to parent and how to run a household before such specialities as Geometry, Chemistry, or Pre-Algebra. To this day I have never used matrices. Not only have I not need to balance a chemical equation in real life, but I have been struggling to learn the studies most important to having a family. Have we the whole thing upside down?
Many things can be learned as an adult. Chad taught himself the profession he now uses to support six people. I have had to add married couples groups, marriage books, respect & love videos, parenting books, parenting seminars, etc to my life to catch up on studies that are Essential to my life. So backing up--Which things are necessary for teens to learn as teens?
Along this line, I have discovered through The Journal of Esther Edwards Burr (daughter of the evangelist Jonathan Edwards and mother of the Vice President Aaron Burr, jr.) that in early colonial times "Housewifery" was an apprenticeship just like that of the Blacksmith or Printer. Homes in need gained support and girls gained skills. By the time Esther married at age 20, she could run a home with apprentices, servants/slaves, and children while entertaining house guests nearly constantly (her husband was a pastor and head of a college).
What value did early colonists ascribe to the position of a woman in the home?
What investment did they make in these young girls' preparation?
Have we in our attempt to become equal with men in position, lost our own? Has society put a stumbling block in the path of youth so that their families and marriages fail due to lack of preparation? How can we reinvent education for youth?
4 comments:
Well, you weren't tired or forgetful tonight! You have some insightful observations there, Hols. Society always seems to do "overkill" when it's trying to right a wrong. We went from women ONLY having one option in life (similar to a man only having the occupational option of being a farmer) and that is being a mother and housewife to the complete other end of the spectrum where there is NO TRAINING to BE a mother and housewife. And you're right, we train women to be corporate executives, but how many of those women will be single for the rest of their lives? How many women do BOTH - work inside and outside of the home? And they are abysmally short-changed on the homefront/family training.
Well, you weren't tired or forgetful tonight! You have some insightful observations there, Hols. Society always seems to do "overkill" when it's trying to right a wrong. We went from women ONLY having one option in life (similar to a man only having the occupational option of being a farmer) and that is being a mother and housewife to the complete other end of the spectrum where there is NO TRAINING to BE a mother and housewife. And you're right, we train women to be corporate executives, but how many of those women will be single for the rest of their lives? How many women do BOTH - work inside and outside of the home? And they are abysmally short-changed on the homefront/family training.
yes yes, we need the swing back. Can we head for middle ground here?
ON that note, Abi is making her first dinner tonight. She already is thinking about cost, difficulty, taste etc... and wanting to do it every week--not sure if were ready for that but i'm thinking on it.
Love this! Thank you so much for this post...more, please! :)
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