Juniper-school
“After breakfast,” she went on, “you must have a look at Daisy and the rest of the garden. Then we’d better do some lessons.”
“In magic?” I asked. I was both curious and scared.
Juniper laughed.
“I thought we’d begin with reading, writing, astronomy, fairy stories—that kind of thing. Later on we’ll do a bit of Latin.”
“Girls don’t learn Latin,” I told her. “It unfits them for marriage.” (I was quoting my Uncle Gregor’s views on the education of girls.) “And I never heard of a school that taught fairy tales.”
“All learned people learn Latin,” she said. “It’s bound to come in useful. Fairy tales, on the other hand, are about real life.”
—from Wise Child by Monica Furlong
I first read Wise Child in 1993—I remember because my boss at Random House was Monica Furlong’s editor on Robin’s Country, and everyone there said ‘Oh you’ve got to read her other books, they’re wonderful,’ and they were right. That was before I had children, before I’d ever heard of homeschooling, much less considered doing it. So I’m amused, now, to find that what I’ve been doing all along is really Juniper’s version of education. Minus the good cow, Daisy.
(Also wonderful: Juniper, a prequel to Wise Child.)
mamacrow says:
Omg, I HAVE to read that, on that quote alone!
On June 10, 2012 at 12:47 pm
Jeanne says:
I’m with mamacrow. The quote has sold me as well.
On June 10, 2012 at 5:52 pm
Dori says:
Isn’t it delicious, Melissa? I’m so happy to ready Wild Child again. It’s pure magic. 🙂
On June 10, 2012 at 7:41 pm
Celia says:
I read “Wise Child” and “Juniper” so many times when I was young and I adored them – I desperately wanted to live in Juniper’s house.
On June 10, 2012 at 10:50 pm
Lisa says:
Interesting quote & brings to mind the book I’m reading right now–Clover Adams: A Gilded and Heartbreaking Life. She received just the sort of education your quote character seems to think is unhealthy for girls!!
On June 18, 2012 at 12:12 pm
Laura says:
I just read Wise Child, thanks to your referral. I liked it! It was far too short, and I could happily delight myself in volumes on Juniper’s daily (homeschooling) living in and of itself, bar any fantastic plots!
On August 27, 2012 at 1:58 pm