All American girls of the rich class, and a very large number of the poor class, study French.
The reasons given for this immense investment in time and money, are:—
1st. That French words and sentences are common in our literature.
2nd. That educated people must speak French; for it is the language of polite society everywhere.
3rd. Without a knowledge of French, you must forego the science and literature locked up in that language.
4th. The study of the French language involves a peculiar mental discipline of great value.
I am quite ready to admit that a knowledge of French is not only convenient, but indispensable to a liberal education.
But, nevertheless, nineteen in every twenty girls, who study French, simply waste their time and money.
It is not even intended, when they enter upon it, that they shall do anything beyond a little grammar, and one or two readers. It is not expected that they will speak the language, beyond the class conversations.
So whatever may be justly said of the value of French, in view of the considerations I have named, its value, as managed in our schools, cannot be seriously discussed.