Jane Austen on Homeschooling
Friday, October 24th, 2008Not long ago I had the pleasure of reading, I think, one of Jane Austen’s best novels ever, Northanger Abbey. While many of you will probably agree that Jane Austen is possibly one of the most quotable authors ever, I remember finding distinct pleasure in the quotableness of her book, Northanger Abbey, in particular.
One of my favorite passages of the book is related to homeschooling and teaching children to read in particular. It had me laughing hysterically upon reading it, perhaps because at times I feel like teaching children to read is torture… though I don’t know who for, the child or for me! It’s a conversation between Catherine and Henry about history and learning to read.
“You are fond of history! And so are Mr. Allen and my father; and I have two brothers who do not dislike it. So many instances within my small circle of friends is remarkable! At this rate, I shall not pity the writers of history any longer. If people like to read their books, it is all very well, but to be at so much trouble in filling great volumes, which, as I used to think, nobody would willingly ever look into, to be labouring only for the torment of little boys and girls, always struck me as a hard fate; and though I know it is all very right and necessary, I have often wondered at the person’s courage that could sit down on purpose to do it.”
“That little boys and girls should be tormented,” said Henry, “is what no one at all acquainted with human nature in a civilized state can deny; but in behalf of our most distinguished historians, I must observe that they might well be offended at being supposed to have no higher aim, and that by their method and style, they are perfectly well qualified to torment readers of the most advanced reason and mature time of life. I use the verb to torment, as I observed to be your own method, instead of to instruct supposing them to be now admitted as synonymous.”
“You think me foolish to call instruction a torment, but if you had been as much used as myself to hear poor little children first learning their letters and then learning to spell, if you had ever seen how stupid they can be for a whole morning together, and how tired my poor mother is at the end of it, as I am in the habit of seeing almost every day of my life at home, you would allow that `to torment’ and `to instruct’ might sometimes be used as synonymous words.”
“Very probably. But historians are not accountable for the difficulty of learning to read; and even you yourself, who do not altogether seem particularly friendly to very severe, very intense application, may perhaps be brought to acknowledge that it is very well worth-while to be tormented for two or three years of one’s life, for the sake of being able to read all the rest of it. Consider - if reading had not been taught, Mrs. Radcliffe would have written in vain - or perhaps might not have written at all.”
And Henry of course was right… all of the “torment” will indeed be worth it! What are a few years of torment to a lifetime of knowledge and love of learning? Thank you Ms. Austen for this reminder today! We needed it.
