L&T Archive 1998-2003

MT: Early education

What do we know about Jane's early education? Here are some hints from J.E. Austen-Leigh's memoir (and the accompanying letters and editorial notes):

Mr. Austen: "being a good scholar he was able to prepare two of his sons for the University, and to direct the studies of his other children, whether sons or daughters..."

Mrs. Austen: In her "was to be found the germ of much of the ability which was concentrated in Jane... she united strong common sense with a lively imagination..."

Jane's brother James: had "a large share in directing her reading and forming her taste."

Education outside the home: According to Kathryn Sutherland's notes, Jane and Cassandra "had been sent away together to be boarded by Mrs. Ann Cawley, a family connection, in Oxford and Southampton in 1783, when Jane was only 7." Presumably this was a school. They went together to another school, Mrs. LaTournelle's Ladies Boarding School in the Abbey House, Reading, a private school for daughters of the clergy and minor gentry. They stayed there in 1785 and 1786. Apparently educational expectations for Jane were low: family recollections are that "Jane was too young to make her going to school at all necessary, but it was her own doing, she would go with Cassandra: - if Cassandra's head had been going to be cut off Jane would have hers cut off too.'" (letter of Anna Lefroy)

That will do for a start, and perhaps someone else can supply more info from other sources?

Messages In This Thread

MT: Early education
Claire Tomalin on JA's schools
Running a school
no obstacle whatsoever ...except ignorance
Owen and Lancaster
We are acquainted....
The real thing...
Of course you had to post the link! Well done. nfm
New Harmony, Indiana
Another view of the Abbey School scenario
Abbey School today
Independence
Theatre and gossip.....
More on the Abbey School
I agree and can't help but wonder...
(Northanger) Abbey