Page 14 - All About History - Issue 12-14

Education

How to INSIDE A SCHOOL ROOM geography lessons.
Globe
A globe would
be used during
Blackboard
TEACH IN A blackboard at the front
Teachers used a slate
of the classroom to aid
with lessons.

VICTORIAN

CLASSROOM

DISCOVER THE TEACHING METHODS

OF YESTERYEAR, BRITAIN, 1837-1901

5 VICTORIAN During the Victorian era, education was a privilege rather than a
right, with schooling not compulsory until the Education Act of
SUBJECTS 1880, and even then it only applied to pupils aged between five Desk Classrooms were often
Tight-knit
and ten. Still, it was a start on the road toward universal education,
Pupils sat in rows at their
OBJECTS and although Victorian teaching methods may seem archaic to desks. Total silence was with up to 60 pupils
incredibly crowded,
expected unless they
The teacher would pick up an modern eyes, the advances that took place during this time period were being spoken to. in each lesson.
object – say, an apple – and would lay the foundation for the education system in place today.
describe its properties, with the
pupils repeating after him.
NEEDLEWORK
Some subjects were more
gender-specific, notably sewing,
which was taught to the girls
while boys did something thought
of as more ‘suitable’, such as
technical drawing.
ARITHMETIC
Maths was one of the core
components of teaching in
Victorian schools, being taught
with the aid of an abacus.
GEOGRAPHY

Using a globe, pupils were
required to identify locations of
various countries, as well as to Get trained Ensure you have the right tools
memorise their capitals.
First, you need to develop the skills to enable you to In order to teach, both you and your pupils must
WOODWORK 01 teach. Although there are some teacher training colleges, 02 possess the right equipment. All pupils will need a
As girls had their own subjects, the majority of teachers learn their trade in the classroom as slate board and pencil to write with, while older pupils writing
so too did boys, with woodwork apprentices. To teach at a public or grammar school, however, on paper need a pen with a metal nib and an ink well. As well
being considered an especially the requirements are slightly higher, with teachers expected to as desks for them to sit at, other handy things are abacuses for
‘manly’ subject matter. possess university degrees and clerical status. sums and a globe for geography lessons.

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