Background information for 19th century British education

In Great Britain early the 19th century, new industrial capitalist economy and social forces accelerated the change of society and education.

However, as society prospered industrially, social issues multiplied while conservative leaders resisted the extension of education to the masses, fearful that it would increase discontent and incite the lower classes to rebellion. Some industry leaders dreaded the cost of educating the multitude and some religion leaders preferred to maintain the current system of education, which meant a narrow curriculum provided by religion school to teach people to read the Bible. [1]

Under the circumstance, education for poor still was considered as a “charitable undertaking of dubious value at best.” Children in the lower class of British society could only hope to become apprentices or servants; It was assumed that education would be time and economic wasting if poor were destined for a lifetime long labors in factories for example, which needed no education for such a career.[2] Nevertheless, only a minority of poor children could participate in educational activities, and they received a low quantity of knowledge as to be better than nothing at all. The majority were sent to work in mills or factories to earn the salaries for supporting their family. In fact, many parents purposely had a large family to supplement the household income. The kids had to work from infancy, under no protection, prepared but had to take same responsibility as the adult in harsh, competitive industrial communities.

 

The children in new Lanark and Harmony were the rare expectation, supplied with uniforms for owner treated them as children, as individuals entitled to a measure of ease and comfort during their exercises, dancing, and other activities.

[1] Karen Caplan Altfest, Robert Owen as Educator (Boston: Twayne Publishers, 1977), 105.

[2] Altfest, 106.

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private school:

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Church school:

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