In Pride and Prejudice, Caroline describes the education a young lady needs to be truly accomplished, in her opinion: "A woman must have a thorough knowledge of music, singing, drawing, dancing, and the modern languages, to deserve the word". Mr. Darcy agrees and adds his two cent's worth: "To all this she must yet add something more substantial, in the improvement of her mind by extensive reading." The feisty Elizabeth, the heroine, replies that it is no wonder that he knows so few accomplished women. Indeed, she is surprised that he knows any at all!
Education was not regarded as overly important for women in Regency times. Indeed, 'blue-stockings' were derided. Women of the gentry and aristocracy were expected to have accomplishments mostly so that they could be social assets to their husbands and, of course, to help them attract the husbands in the first place. They were not required to have careers and women who did have careers in the gentry and aristocracy often kept them secret because a woman's place was regarded as 'in the home'. Usually they were taught privately by governesses and specialist teachers, if they could afford them, but some went to school. Usually these were not very good.
However, if women didn't have the education available now, their upbringing was certainly more cultured. Most of the girls in the gentry and aristocracy spoke French, for example, and they often went to the theatre, art exhibitions and concerts. Being able to pen an interesting letter was also a requirement.
Men were required to learn how to be gentlemen. They were often taught privately too, but many went to private schools such as Eton and Harrow, where they had a more extensive education than their female counterparts educated by governesses. Here they learnt the classical languages Greek and Latin, arithmetic, grammar, science, etc. After this they usually went on to Oxford or Cambridge where they studied the Classics or, perhaps Divinity. The aristocratic professions suitable for younger sons included the law, the military, and the clergy, of course. The clergy wasn't highly regarded - there is an old saying that 'the fool of the family enters the church'! Doctors were not as respected as they are now - medicine was a middle-class profession rather than an aristocratic one.
Perhaps this kind of training - in the classical languages - together with French was much more rigorous and demanding than education is now. Sometimes I wonder if we have really progressed.
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