Why Women Should be Educated - 1877
Egerton Ryerson, preacher and educator.
Introduction
Egerton Ryerson was a Methodist circuit rider in Canada and later a missionary to Indians. He was deeply concerned for education, establishing many schools. Eventually he was appointed superintendent of the common (i.e. public) schools of upper Canada. He traveled over Europe studying the most effective way to operate a public school system and prepared many recommendations that the Canadian government subsequently adopted as law. On this day 27 June, 1877, he wrote:
Quote
“To-day I had the great pleasure of laying the foundation stone of an important addition to the Methodist Ladies’ College at Whitby....My remarks were few, and related chiefly to the importance of female education....It was of vital necessity that the mothers of our land should be educated. Woman made the home, and home made the man. If the daughters were educated, the sons would not remain ignorant. Both patriotism and piety should make people encourage these institutions, which would be the pride of future generations.”
Ryerson, Egerton. The Story of My Life.