A、Private schools were expensive. B、Teachers were not good enough. C、Women couldn’t learn French. D、Women didn’t like schooling.

During the 19th century, women’s education was not considered important in the United States. Supporters of advanced education for women faced many problems.(29)States did require each town to provide a school for children, but teachers were often poorly prepared. Most young women were not able to continue their education in private schools. If they did, they often were not taught much except the French language, how to sew clothing, and music. Mary Lyon felt that women’s education was extremely important. Through her lifelong work for education,(30)she became one of the most famous women in 19th century America. She believed that women were teachers both in the home and in the classroom. And, she believed that efforts to better educate young women also served God. If women were better educated, she felt, they could teach in local schools throughout the United States and in foreign countries. Mary Lyon was head of a school for almost 12 years. She died in 1849. She left behind a school of higher education for women. It had no debt. And it had support for the future provided by thousands of dollars in gifts. People who have studied Mary Lyon say she was not fighting a battle of equality between men and women. Yet she knew she wanted more for women. Her efforts led to the spread of higher education for women in the United States. Historians say she was the strongest influence on the education of American young people during the middle of the 19th century.(31)Her influence lasted as the many students from Mary Lyon’s schools went out to teach others.
29. What was the problem concerning women’s education in the 19th century?
30. What can we conclude about Mary Lyon?
31. What happened after Mary Lyon’s death?