Growth of Public Education During the Industrial Age(1800-1914)

In the late 1800s, the British government decided to set up public school and required all children to attend. Teaching was based on “the 3 R’s “-reading, writing, and rithmetic- this was thought to be a better rule to produce better citizens. Also, in industrialized societies recognized the need for literate work force. The schools at this time taught punctuality, obedience to authority, disciplined work habits, and patriotism. In the European school, children also received a basic teaching of religion.
At first in public education elementary schools were primal. Many of the teachers had little schooling themselves. In rural areas, children attended school when they could (when they weren’t needed in the farms or in their parents’ workshop). By the late 1800s more and more children attended school, the quality also improved; also governments began to expand secondary schools, known as high school in the United States.
In secondary schools students learned the “classical language” which was Latin and Greek, they also learned history and mathematics. Only middle-class families could afford this type of education, which they trained the students for more serious studies and even for government jobs. On the other hand middle-class girls attended school primarily in the hope that they would marry well and become better wives and mothers.
In higher education colleges and universities expanded as well. In most universities students were sons of the middle- or upper-class families. The curriculum was based on ancient history and languages, philosophy, religion, and law. By the late 1800s universities and colleges added courses in science, especially in chemistry and physics. Engineering schools also trained their student to build and prepare a new industrial society.
In the 1840s small colleges opened for women including Bedford College in England and Mount Holyoke in the United States. In 1863, The British reformer Emily Davies campaigned for female students to e allowed to take entrance exams for Cambridge University, unfortunately male Cambridge students protested against granting women degrees.

In this 1800th more education by the british was released. This was a great thing for many humans. They learned how to read and write, which is very important. Even though it was hard for many children to go because most of them needed to attend farming, work etc.

Is good that many people learned how to read and write because now they had chances to get a better job and live a better life.