THE IDEAL OF MOTHERHOOD.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR." j SIR,—In an editorial note to a letter with the title of "Women's Imperial Work" which appeared in the Spectator of March 10th you very naturally observe that you cannot allow a general discussion on the population question to be carried on in your columns. Will you allow me, how- ever, to point out to those who are convinced of the urgent necessity of drawing the attention of women to the inevitable consequences of the lowering of the ideal of motherhood, that there is a means, and a most potent means, by which their purpose may be effected, if not in this genera- tion, at any rate in the next? The advocates for increasing the military spirit of the nation say very justly, "Begin with the boys." Should not the advocates of making motherhood the ideal of women begin with the girls ? Mr. Herbert Spencer, speaking of the education of boys in this country, declared that future students of our public-school education would come to the conclusion that it was a system intended for the celibates of the community, and that some other method must surely have been in vogue for those destined to fulfil the ordinary duties of the citizen. May not this reproach be even more justly levelled at our educational system as applied to girls ? In the otherwise excellent education provided in girls' high schools is the smallest hint ever given that the care of children is the noblest work which can await a girl in her future life ? Could a girl not be taught even in the schoolroom that the care of children is work which will call for all her intellect and all her cultivation, and that the only narrowness which is to be found within the four walls of a nursery is the narrow outlook which the unskilful mother too often brings to her work? The really successful mother, who does not wish her influence to cease with the babyhood of her children, must not only have a considerable knowledge of physiology and hygiene to manage the little children's health, but she must take good care th have an intellectual equipment which will enable, her to keep up with her children mentally when they begin to think for themselves. The good mother must be ready with intelligent sympathy for all and every intellectual development which her children may display. There is therefore no subject which girls can be taught that may not be useful to them afterwards in the care and educa- tion of children. It is hardly possible to overestimate how great a difference there would be in the standpoint of the women of the next generation if by waving a magic wand the Ideal of Motherhood could be made universally recognisable as the ultimate aim of women's education in every girls' school and women's College throughout the length and. breadth of the land. And motherhood should be recognised as including not only the care of a woman's own children, but that of children entrusted to her pro- fessionally, or of children for whom she cares for the sake of "sweet charity." From the girls educated with this ideal would grow up a race of women who would use every modern intellectual development for the highest purpose to which women can apply them, and who would raise the duties of motherhood to their proper place in the just ordering of the world. But if a girl for the first eighteen years of her life is taught either to ignore or to despise the work which awaits her, it is difficult to blame her if when she grows up she carries this teaching into effect. The future of the English race lies in the hands of the women teachers of England. Let us hope that they will soon awaken to the seriousness of their
responsibilities.—I am, Sir, &C., PARENT.
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