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William Milns, | |
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This short treatise, published in London at the expense of the author, helped establish Milns as a scholar and pedagogue. In the first twelve pages, he outlines a plan for men's education, then adds a separate section on female education. William Milns began a folio called, The Penman's Repository and wrote The American Accountant, or A Complete System of Practical Arithmetic. . . in 1797. These titles suggest he was a dedicated teacher. According to the Library of Congress catalog, Milns also wrote farcical plays for the New York theater, an indication of the association between theater, rhetoric, and oratory. |
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| Reading Between the Lines | |
| What aspects of Milns' treatise show he is an entrepreneur? How important is religion in his plan for education? Milns seems to argue for women's education on the basis of "civilization." How is this different from the political discourse of the day that was based on "rights?" In your opinion, how do the subjects Milns encourages for young women resonate with the "rights" or the "civilization" arguments? Compare Milns' account of female education with that of Hannah Foster in The Boarding School. What subjects does Milns teach that Foster neglects? What subjects and manners does Foster include that Milns neglects? Which education would you have chosen for yourself or your child? | |
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