GIRLS EDUCATION IN THE 19TH CENTURY.

The early 19th century was a time of great change in education in New England, especially for girls.
In 1789, Boston public primary schools became coeducational. High schools, however, usually did
not admit girls until about 1820. The school term for girls was also shorter, but nevertheless, girls’
education in Boston improved rapidly after the American Revolution.1 The question is, of course,
why?
First, the new republican ideology gave force to a new movement towards egalitarianism. Although
women remained second-class citizens, the new republican individualism gave them a positive vision
of womanhood. They earned respect as “republican mothers,” who contributed to the important
task of raising republican children. Secondly, a result of the new republican ideology was a great
expansion of education, which became an important element of a virtuous republican society.

http://www.bostonhistory.org/pdf/Kermes%20article_final.pdf