What was a Victorian school day like?

Summary

The video offers a vivid glimpse into the Victorian school experience, highlighting the long school hours from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Students began with slate boards and progressed to ink, learning the essential 'three R's': reading, writing, and arithmetic. Overcrowded classrooms, sometimes with up to 300 pupils, fostered a strict educational environment where punishments for mistakes were commonplace, including physical discipline. Embarrassing practices like wearing a 'dunce's hat' marked slow learners. School meals were unappetizing, often limited to boiled meat soup, leading many to prefer packed lunches. This portrayal reflects the challenging and regimented nature of education during this period.

Takeaways

• 📚 School began at 9:00 a.m. and ended at 5:00 p.m.
• ✏️ Children started writing on slate boards and moved to ink and handwriting books as they progressed.
• 🔤 The curriculum emphasized the three R's: reading, writing, and arithmetic.
• 🔢 Students used an abacus for counting and engaged with biblical texts in their studies.
• 👩‍🏫 Victorian classrooms were overcrowded, often containing 70 to 80 pupils, and sometimes up to 300.
• 🚨 Teachers were strict, administering punishments for left-handed writing, mistakes, and slow learning.
• 🎓 Punishments included detention, extra assignments, and even physical discipline like rulers or canes.
• 😳 Students who struggled academically wore dunce hats and sat on special stools as a form of humiliation.
• 🍲 School dinners were typically unappetizing, often consisting of boiled meat soup, with some additional items available for a fee.
• 🥪 Most children brought packed lunches or went home for lunch, indicating a preference over school meals.

Q & A

What time did school begin and end?

School began at 9:00 a.m. and finished at 5:00 p.m.

What writing tools did children use in school?

Children initially wrote on slate boards with slate pencils and, once older, used ink in handwriting books.

What were the 'three R's' taught in Victorian schools?

The 'three R's' were reading, writing, and arithmetic.

What method did children use to chant their times tables?

Children chanted their times tables using a counting frame called an abacus.

How many pupils could be in a single Victorian class?

Victorian classes could have as many as 70 to 80 pupils, and in one case mentioned, there were 300 pupils in one class.

What types of punishments were common for children in school?

Punishments included detention, extra work, and physical punishment with a ruler or cane for mistakes or using the left hand.

What was the consequence for slower learners?

Slower learners had to sit on a special stool and wear a dunce's hat, which was very embarrassing.

What were typical school dinners like?

School dinners were generally not tasty, often consisting of a cup of soup made from boiled meat bones.

What additional food options were available for those who paid a little extra?

For a small payment, children could get bread, jam, meat, and potatoes.

What did most children prefer for lunch?

Most children took packed lunches, while some went home for lunch.