A contribution to the history of the educational tradition inherited from Madame de Maintenon

Abstract

The first half of this thesis is concerned with Saint-Cyr itself, its founder, its history, its main ideas, A chapter is devoted to Madame de Maintenon, and lays especial emphasis on those sides of her character which were reflected in the school she founded. Another chapter sketches the history of the school, and describes the educational system finally established there. There follows a discussion of some of the distinctive features of the system - its aristocratic character, the advance it marked towards the secularisation of education and its fore-shadowing of modern theories. The second part deals with the Saint-Cyr tradition, and shows how Madame de Maintenon's foundation was copied by other schools. First are examined, those of Gomerfontaine and Bisy and the "Institut de l'Enfant Jesus," founded by Languet de Gergy. All those were strongly marked by Saint-Cyr influence. The schools of the Ursulines and the Visitandines are considered next, but the conclusion reached is that, with certain exceptions,their debt to Saint-Cyr is small. A Section follows on various small schools at Poitiers, Arles, Lucon, Honfleur and Orleans, and on the important Houses of education of the Legion of Honour. An example is then given of Saint-Cyr influence abroad, in the Institutes founded by Catherine of Russia. Under the heading of "Theorists," mention is made of the schemes of the Abbe de Saint-Pierre and of Madame de Genlis, who both held up Saint-Cyr as a pattern to be copied by other schools for girls. The conclusion reached is that the Saint-Cyr tradition is greater than is generally acknowledged, but that Madame de Maintenon influenced girls' education more by her writings than by the Schools which she inspired.