Where Girls Come First: The Rise, Fall, and Surprising Revival of Girls' Schools

By Ilana DeBare

Book Overview

Twenty years ago, all-girls schools seemed headed for extinction, a minor footnote in the story of American education. Today, they are experiencing a dramatic revival. In Where Girls Come First, Ilana... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1585422894
• ISBN13: 9781585422890
• Release Date: March 2004
• Publisher: Tarcher
• Length: 400 Pages
• Weight: 1.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.6" x 1.3" x 5.8"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 12 and higher

Customer Reviews

Captivating read.

Enjoyed reading some of this book. There is a lot of information here. The author has taken a great deal of time and effort to share her research into why girls need separate educational facilities. That said, there are still many people for whom, regardless of 'facts', single sex schools cannot be the right answer. Just as in politics and religion, many people have their set of beliefs which no facts or research will ever change. I don't expect this book to win converts, but I do believe it can help people who are attempting to determine the best path for their own child's education.

Great information in an easy-to-digest format

I enjoyed DeBare's book so much! I attended an all-girls school (what fun to read about it in her book!) and am preparing for a career teaching in one, so I was excited to run across this history. DeBare has a vested interest in girls' schools, both their strengths as great places for girls and their weaknesses, including a checkered history that has included both innovative opportunities for young women and stultifying traditions that hold women back. Her research has revealed a wide range of issues in all-female education over the past few centuries, a number of interesting characters among girls'-school founders, and, of course, numerous traditions that make girls' schools distinctive places to grow up. Her book lends her readers a great perspective on how we have ended up where we are, and what we need to keep in mind as we take all-girls schools into the 21st century. My only frustration was with the writing style--having worked as a journalist, DeBare often uses short, simple sentences to the point of irritation, but this style also makes her book an easy read that doesn't bog down her reader. Highly recommended for anyone interested in single-sex education!

Girls are valued for brains and heart, not just looks

I loved this book. Anyone who is interested in the education of girls today will find it a fascinating journey. The narrative weaves back and forth between the history of girls schools filled with amazingly strong and dedicated women and the author's working hard with others to establish a new girl's school in California. This is a book for anyone who went to a girls school, anyone with a daughter and anyone interested in how we educate girls in our pressure filled society. Ms. DeBare is a great storyteller.

This is surprising wonderful book!

Although I did not attend a girls' school myself, I found this book very interesting and thought-provoking. It is full of interesting historical information, balanced with the very interesting story of how a group of parents interested in single-sex education launched The Julia Morgan School. It is also beautifully written, so it is a just a wonderful read.

Interesting, informative, and throroughly enjoyable!

I loved this book! It's stuffed full of fascinating historical tidbits, and beautifully written. The history is interleaved with the modern story of the founding of Julia Morgan School for Girls, so it never gets boring. You're always wondering if they'll succeed in creating the school -- it's a page-turner, really (with a happy ending). My favorite kind of book. Thanks Ilana!