Back to SCHOOL: Did You Know? Now and Then | British Pathé

Summary

This video explores the evolution of schooling, comparing past and present educational methods. It highlights the strict, gender-segregated classrooms of the past with up to 100 students, often relying on slates and inkwells. In contrast, today's classrooms are more inclusive, technologically advanced, and have smaller class sizes. The role of teachers has also shifted, with modern educators working in specialized fields and offering students more free time. The video reflects on how far education has come, showcasing the improvements in teaching methods, school life, and student opportunities over the years.

Takeaways

• 😀 Classrooms in past centuries could contain up to 100 pupils, often segregated by gender, and were quite strict.
• 😀 Teachers in the past often had second jobs to earn a living, and teaching was mainly a male-dominated profession.
• 😀 Students in the past used slates and inkwells for writing, while modern students use computers, overhead projectors, and other advanced tech.
• 😀 School equipment has greatly advanced, and students now have better access to technology for learning.
• 😀 The size of classrooms has significantly decreased, with around 30 pupils being typical in modern-day classrooms.
• 😀 Pupils no longer work in the fields after school, unlike in the past when they were expected to help their parents with chores.
• 😀 Teachers now specialize in different subjects, whereas in the past, students had one teacher for all subjects.
• 😀 Education today is much more structured with a curriculum, group work, school trips, and various teaching methods.
• 😀 In the past, education often had gender-based subject separation, with corporal punishment commonly used, especially for boys.
• 😀 The reputation of teaching has improved over the years, and it has become a more respected and specialized profession.
• 😀 Modern-day students have much more free time compared to past generations, as they don't have to work after school.

Q & A

How were classrooms structured in the past?

In past centuries, classrooms could contain up to 100 pupils, often segregated by gender, with most schools being single-gender. The classrooms were strict, and students sat on wooden benches, fearing punishment such as caning.

What type of equipment did students use in the past for writing?

In the past, students used slates or inkwells for writing, a far cry from the modern equipment available in schools today.

How do modern classrooms differ from past ones in terms of technology?

Today, schools are equipped with computers, overhead projectors, and video projectors, marking a significant advancement in classroom technology compared to the past.

What is the average size of a classroom today compared to the past?

Modern classrooms are much smaller, with an average of around 30 pupils per class, in contrast to the larger classes of up to 100 pupils in earlier times.

How have teachers' roles and jobs evolved over time?

In the past, teachers often had second jobs to make ends meet, and teaching was mostly a male profession. Today, teaching has a better reputation, is specialized, and involves different teachers for different subjects.

What was the expectation for students after school in the past?

After school, children were expected to work in the fields and help their parents with chores, which contrasts with today's expectation that students have more free time after school.

How has the education system evolved in terms of the curriculum?

Today, children typically go to school for at least 9 years, with a curriculum that allows for variety in teaching methods such as group work, school trips, and audio-visual projects. In the past, certain subjects were taught only to specific genders, and corporal punishment was common.

What was the teaching environment like in the past?

Teaching in the past was very strict and almost military-like. Pupils had the same teacher for all their subjects, and discipline was enforced through corporal punishment.

How do modern educational practices compare to those of the past in terms of gender equality?

Modern education promotes gender equality, with both boys and girls attending school together and having access to the same curriculum. In contrast, past education systems often taught different subjects based on gender.

What has improved in terms of students' free time and extracurricular activities?

Students today enjoy much more free time compared to the past, as they are no longer required to help with chores after school. This has also allowed for more extracurricular activities and opportunities for personal development.