THE
RENAISSANCE OF GIRLS’ EDUCATION IN ENGLAND
A Record of Fifty Years’ Progress

To all whom it may interest I dedicate this briefsummary of the events which have wrought a peacefulrevolution among us during the last fifty years.Among the many changes of the half-century, thegreat transformation in the education of womensurely deserves a record. The workers have beenmany, the help given of various kinds, yet no eventis isolated, for all are links in one chain of progress.Fifty years ago a few far-sighted men and womengave the impetus; we who harvest where they sowedmay like to be reminded, in this season of retrospects,of the great debt we owe them. What has touchedthe lives of so many women is the concern of all,and though I shall be proud indeed if my book provewelcome to teachers, I should wish most of all toaddress myself to that old and long-tried friend ofliterature, the general reader. If he, or she, can bepersuaded, to spend an hour or two, learning the pastand present of the education of our girls, my purposewill have been accomplished.

To thank for favours received is a pleasant task,but the list of those who have helped me with thisvibook would prove too long for enumeration. I desireto offer my heartiest thanks to all who have assistedme with information, criticism, or in any other way;especially to Miss Beale for valuable materials andkind hospitality, to Mrs. Bryant and Miss A. A. M.Rogers for much useful information, to Miss MaryGurney, Miss Ella Pycroft, Miss Mary Kennedy, andMr. W. Edwards for reading portions of the book,and to Mrs. Edwards for her sympathy and kindnessduring my stay in Wales. To the many headmistresseswho have allowed me to visit their schoolsI offer most cordial thanks, and last, but not least, tothe officials of the Education Library, in particularMr. Sadler and Miss Beard, for their courtesy andhelpfulness.