Three Centuries of Girls' Education: Regulations of the Ursuline Nuns of the Congregation of Paris

Three Centuries of Girls' Education by Mary Anne O'Neil provides an examination and English translation of Les Règlemens des religieuses Ursulines de la Congrégation de Paris, the first pedagogical system designed for the education of girls. It traces the history of the document from its origins to the establishment of the religious order in Paris, the changes in the organization of Ursuline schools in nineteenth-century France, and Mother Marie de St. Jean Martin's defense of the traditional French Ursuline method after World War II.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 186 pages
Publication date: 30 October 2022
Publisher: Louisiana State University Press

Three Centuries of Girls' Education is a comprehensive work by Mary Anne O'Neil that delves into the examination and first English translation of Les Règlemens des religieuses Ursulines de la Congrégation de Paris. Originally published in 1705, these regulations are considered the pioneering pedagogical system specifically crafted for the education of girls. Notably, they are one of the few surviving documents that provide a detailed account of the day-to-day operations of early Ursuline schools.

O'Neil's historical journey traces the origins of the regulations from the writings of the Italian foundress of the Ursulines to the establishment of the religious order in Paris in 1612. She then explores the changes in the organization of Ursuline schools in nineteenth-century France, culminating in Mother Marie de St. Jean Martin's spirited defense of the traditional French Ursuline method after World War II.

In the eighteenth century, the New Orleans Ursulines utilized the regulations as a guide to establish their schools and teaching methods. O'Neil's work not only offers valuable insights for historians of the early modern era but also appeals to scholars interested in education history and female religious life.

Through her meticulous examination and translation, O'Neil has recovered a vital source that sheds light on the educational practices and experiences of girls during the early modern period. Three Centuries of Girls' Education is a significant contribution to the field, enriching our understanding of the past and providing valuable insights for future research.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780807178843