Absolutely!
Posted by P. Bingham on January 22, 1998 at 22:43:10:
In response to Dinner table learning, written by gkb on January 22, 1998 at 20:46:46
Without a doubt. My opinion only.
Much of the characteristics that Jane had came from her family... her love of reading... her enjoyment in writing (her brothers published a paper... although Jane was a little disappointed in their writing capabilities...) her fascination with the inner world around her.
Education was important to the Austen family, including women's education. Although the girls were sent off to school for short periods (schools that their father would have known did little for their brains) I think that it was done because it was a common thing to do and their mother wanted the girls to be raised as much like their more well-to-do cousins as possible, and in this Mr. Austen tried to do when possible.
This "fireside" education, you mention... It was the same for many families during this confusing this era where it was thought heathen to have no education but, at the same time, "bluestockings" were still looked down upon. In these times, any woman with any mind at all might be considered a "bluestocking" (although this term was getting old at this time)
Sorry if this is all mangled!
] Do you all think that the pupils and Austen boys discussed their lessons in the home? I have this notion (unsupported except by my imagination) that Jane and Cassandra got a kind of second-hand, first-class education, just by sitting around the dinner table and the fireside, you know?
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