A Girl's School

Dear Diary,

It's hard to watch my brothers head to school at the monastery today-as it is everyday. Here I am, stuck at home to help with all the housework and to look after my little sister. Everyone says that girls don't need to go to school, but I think that girls like me should have a chance to get an education; you never know, girls can succeed. I hear a lot form my brothers about school; you get to learn mathematical equations, reading, and writing. What fun it must be! My brothers think that such hard work is uninteresting and boring; but if I had an opportunity to go to school, I would enjoy every moment of it. Why is it that only boys get the opportunity?

Being a peasant child is not that easy. Today, I worked in the fields. I cut the grain so my mom could bake bread to sell. I managed through the day without getting a bruise or scratch; regularly, I would get two scratches at the least, a day. Working in the fields is nothing. I had to baby-sit my younger sister, Adele. I had to repair my dad's customer's shoes. Adele is very energetic and runs out of my sight a lot of the time. Can you imagine? While all this work is being done, my brothers are off learning marvelous things.

With the education that my brother gets, I would probably start my own school for only girls. If only I had the education and power others have. What reputation does a poor peasant girl have but to grow up and become a woman peasant? I want a chance of making girls and women more powerful than just working and waiting on men and masters. I could do so much; if only I could read and write. One can only read and write with a good education and courage.

To you, diary, I hope I made my point. For you know I am against this and will always be. Only now I am a daughter of a poor peasant, but you will see; I will be grand and powerful, just like a strong man.

--EMMA

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