In the first half of the
1800s, classes were massive. Sometimes there were more than 100 pupils in every
class.
The Victorian classroom was
often referred to as the schoolroom.
Victorian pupils sat at
iron-framed desks. These were usually bolted to the floor in rows facing the
front of the classroom, the walls of a Victorian school were often completely
bare, the floor of the schoolrooms were tiered so the children sitting at the
back of the room were higher up than those sitting at the front this meant that
all of the children had a good view of the teacher and the blackboard, but it
also meant that the teacher had a good view of them.
The windows in a Victorian
classroom were high up to stop pupils looking out of the window and the rooms
were lit by gaslights which as a result, the schoolrooms were gloomy and often
stuffy.
Sometimes different
classrooms were only divided from the others by curtains. This meant that it was
very easy to hear noise coming from other lessons. Although lots of schools were built
during the Victorian era, not a great deal of money was spent on taking care of
the buildings. Victorian schools were often quite shabby and in need of repair.
The Teachers
In Victorian schools there were more female teachers than male ones with women
occupying the majority of teaching roles. These women were often very strict
and scary. The majority of female teachers were unmarried ladies and they were
to be called ‘Miss’ at all times. The reason teaching consisted of mostly
ladies was due to the pay scale. The salaries were poor and men could be
earning more money elsewhere so this was left to the women. The rationale
behind it been mostly unmarried women was that once married the women was
expected to take care of the family.
The large majority of teachers did not have a college education. The role of teaching was something they picked up while on the job and every new lesson would be a challenge for them too.
The teaching was also passed on to some of the brightest children in some schools known as ‘Monitors’ where they would be taught by the Headmaster and would then pass this onto small groups of children as another way of educating. The Victorian teaching system was much different to the one we have today.
The large majority of teachers did not have a college education. The role of teaching was something they picked up while on the job and every new lesson would be a challenge for them too.
The teaching was also passed on to some of the brightest children in some schools known as ‘Monitors’ where they would be taught by the Headmaster and would then pass this onto small groups of children as another way of educating. The Victorian teaching system was much different to the one we have today.
Punishment
Discipline was huge in the Victorian times and this was no different in schools. It wasn’t uncommon for children to be beat by canes made from birch wood. Boys were typically caned on their backsides whereas Girls would take the punishment on their legs or hands.
The reasons ranged from truancy right through to laziness in the classroom. The punishments were usually harsh and painful for children aged jus between 5-10.
Children who were slower than the rest within lessons were made to wear the shameful dunce hats and sit in the corner for over an hour. This was not only humiliating for the child but also not helping them get up to speed with the rest of the class. At the time there was no concept of children with learning difficulties and the uneducated classroom teachers would assume it was purely down to the laziness or lack of effort.
Amazingly children were reprimanded for using their left hand to write! This was seen as a punishable offence and they were made write with their right hand!
