Education Learning Journey
"Strange notions, has he?" said the old man. "Ah, there's too much of that sending to school in these days! It only does harm. Every gatepost and barn's door you come to is sure to have some bad word or other chalked upon it by the young rascals: a woman can hardly pass for shame sometimes. If they'd never been taught how to write they wouldn't have been able to scribble such villainy. Their fathers couldn't do it, and the country was all the better for it."
Thomas Hardy, The Return of the Native, Book 2, Chapter 1.
Fortunately not everyone was of this opinion about education, which is why you can read this today.
Follow the steps to see how your great-grandparents fought for our education.
Click on the steps below to explore.
 |  |  |  |  |  |
|
Education Learning Journey. Step 5. Technical education.
The Education Act of 1870 brought into being School Boards, but education was not compulsory and at that time there were not enough schools to accommodate every child of school age. During the next ten years the Boards took over many of the voluntary schools in their areas and built many more so that by 1880 the Mundella Act stated that education was compulsory for all children between the ages of 5 and 13, but that any child over the age of 10 that had achieved a certain proficiency could attend part time. In 1891 school fees were abolished. As the Board schools were now free, many of the ragged schools were absorbed into the School Board system, although some maintained their independence as in many cases they provided a wider curriculum than the council schools.The lack of technical education in the Board Schools was recognised and higher educational colleges were opened to teach the necessary skills in science, commerce and technology, essential if the country was to compete against the other trading nations. Most manufacturing towns had a Mechanics Institute and many young workers attended these colleges at night after work, or on a day or half day allowed by their employer, whilst working in a factory the rest of the week. The note-book of one such worker Harry Pearson, a weaver, is available on this website. Search for Harry Pearson as the author/creator and see the amount of study required to become a weaver. Search the website for Elizabeth Jane Howarth and see a half-timer's certificate. |
 | |
| Associated Objects | |
| |
| Related Narratives | |
| |
