Page 221 - Records of Bahrain (5) (ii)_Neat

The progress oj state education, 1939-1941 541 i

G3

few words ought to be said about tho Education of Girls. i

I found, during my visit to Bahrain, that a personal inspection of tho
lwo girl*.’ n hools would not bo possible, and us I did not thiuk it wise to
taw any ollicial report upon the unsupported evidence of tho teachers, I
made no investigation of femalo education in Bahrain. I was, however,
diown some beautiful examples of hundwork of various kinds, dono by the
schoolgirls and I was much impressed by tho high standard of artistry
and skill which these displayed. I was ako told that much attention is
being paid in the girls’ schools to the domestic subjects, 6uch as cooking,
sewing, and other branches of housekeeping, which is an excellent and
most scusiblc arrangement, und one which ought to bo continued. Thoro
does just exist, however, a danger of neRlectiug tho literary side of a girl’s
education, in favour of tho domestio side, to such an extonb as to daniugo
her chances of marriago luter on; for it is being found in thoso Arab
countries which are educating their youth on a wido sculo that tho young
men are showing an increasing di6ta6to for marriago with girls whose
education is much inferior to thoir own.
I therefore suggest to your Highness that whilo tho domestio side of
femalo education in Bahrain is of the utmost importance, and should bo
fully developed, a careful watoh should be kept to soe that tho literary side
is not too much neglected.