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Education In Regency/Victorian England
Education in Regency and Victorian England was quite different from the education we experience today. Many children did not attend school and even if they did the curriculum was not to the expectations we have created today. Also, boy and girls were taught different subjects. They were also treated differently.
We may not realize it, but going to school is a privilege. In the 19th century education was not a right and many children, boys and girls, would never attend a school to get the proper education. Social-class and money usually had an impact on who went to school. In the 19th century few children attended a school (Victorian). Many poor children could not attend school because they had jobs or worked at home (Victorian). If these children did not work their families would lose money and would not be able to survive (Victorian). Usually only rich, upper-class families could afford to send their kids to school because the school fees were very expensive (Victorian). Also, many rich parents kept their children home so they could be supervised while learning (Bolen). Sometimes young boys in the Regency would have private tutors that would help them and prepare them for college (Bolen). During the Victorian age most poor girls did not go to school and were not expected to have much education (Victorian). On the other hand, girls who belonged to a rich family were usually taught at home by a governess, also know as a tutor (Victorian). These governesses often had very little education themselves (Bondy). However, some upper and middle-class girls attended boarding schools (Bondy). These schools were known as seminaries and were not viewed very highly (Bondy). The teachers at these seminaries had no formal training and were not qualified to teach children (Bondy). The teachers hated their jobs and thought that education itself was repulsive and unnecessary (Hart 94). In these seminaries and schools learning was not designed to be fun (Hart 94). Some boys attended schools. If the boy was a poor boy he would usually leave school when he was old enough to work and help out at home (Reader 117). Contrairly rich boys stayed in school and sometimes even attended a larger university such as Oxford or Cambridge (Reader 117). Depending on how much money their families had, it would determine how much education they would have for the rest of their lives.
In addition, boys and girls were taught very different things. Boys were usually taught subjects such as Latin, Greek, algebra, and history (Bondy). These particular topics were not taught to girls because they were considered to be unfeminine (Bondy). Parents usually wanted their boys to be taught enough English to write business letters, and arithmetic which was considered the most important subject at the time (Reader 20). Rather, girls were not taught basic curriculum (Bondy). Girls were often not served as well as boys (Reader 121). Girls were thought to need less education than boys because they could not learn as well and it would decrease their chances in the marriage market (Reader 121). Girls were usually taught topics such as drawing, sewing, basic reading, writing, dancing, Shakespeare, and poetry (Bondy). Girls were also taught to sing because many men enjoyed being sung to sleep (Bondy). Upper-class girls were also taught Christian morals and how to be good wives (Bondy). Women were educated so that they could be good wives and mothers (Bondy). Many women had very little education. Although, there were some highly educated girls in the 18th century (Bondy). These women had to hide their capabilities because they were considered outcasts (Bondy). Boys and girls were treated and taught very differently during the Regency and Victorian ages.
Boys and girls were taught very differently during the Regency and Victorian ages. This probably had a very large impact on how women and men were viewed as adults. Today education has advanced much further and school is now required for all boys and girls no matter their background.
Education in Regency and Victorian England was quite different from the education we experience today. Many children did not attend school and even if they did the curriculum was not to the expectations we have created today. Also, boy and girls were taught different subjects. They were also treated differently.
We may not realize it, but going to school is a privilege. In the 19th century education was not a right and many children, boys and girls, would never attend a school to get the proper education. Social-class and money usually had an impact on who went to school. In the 19th century few children attended a school (Victorian). Many poor children could not attend school because they had jobs or worked at home (Victorian). If these children did not work their families would lose money and would not be able to survive (Victorian). Usually only rich, upper-class families could afford to send their kids to school because the school fees were very expensive (Victorian). Also, many rich parents kept their children home so they could be supervised while learning (Bolen). Sometimes young boys in the Regency would have private tutors that would help them and prepare them for college (Bolen). During the Victorian age most poor girls did not go to school and were not expected to have much education (Victorian). On the other hand, girls who belonged to a rich family were usually taught at home by a governess, also know as a tutor (Victorian). These governesses often had very little education themselves (Bondy). However, some upper and middle-class girls attended boarding schools (Bondy). These schools were known as seminaries and were not viewed very highly (Bondy). The teachers at these seminaries had no formal training and were not qualified to teach children (Bondy). The teachers hated their jobs and thought that education itself was repulsive and unnecessary (Hart 94). In these seminaries and schools learning was not designed to be fun (Hart 94). Some boys attended schools. If the boy was a poor boy he would usually leave school when he was old enough to work and help out at home (Reader 117). Contrairly rich boys stayed in school and sometimes even attended a larger university such as Oxford or Cambridge (Reader 117). Depending on how much money their families had, it would determine how much education they would have for the rest of their lives.
In addition, boys and girls were taught very different things. Boys were usually taught subjects such as Latin, Greek, algebra, and history (Bondy). These particular topics were not taught to girls because they were considered to be unfeminine (Bondy). Parents usually wanted their boys to be taught enough English to write business letters, and arithmetic which was considered the most important subject at the time (Reader 20). Rather, girls were not taught basic curriculum (Bondy). Girls were often not served as well as boys (Reader 121). Girls were thought to need less education than boys because they could not learn as well and it would decrease their chances in the marriage market (Reader 121). Girls were usually taught topics such as drawing, sewing, basic reading, writing, dancing, Shakespeare, and poetry (Bondy). Girls were also taught to sing because many men enjoyed being sung to sleep (Bondy). Upper-class girls were also taught Christian morals and how to be good wives (Bondy). Women were educated so that they could be good wives and mothers (Bondy). Many women had very little education. Although, there were some highly educated girls in the 18th century (Bondy). These women had to hide their capabilities because they were considered outcasts (Bondy). Boys and girls were treated and taught very differently during the Regency and Victorian ages.
Boys and girls were taught very differently during the Regency and Victorian ages. This probably had a very large impact on how women and men were viewed as adults. Today education has advanced much further and school is now required for all boys and girls no matter their background.
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Education In Vanity Fair
Education is very present in Vanity Fair. Rebecca Sharp is one of the main characters and she is a governess, “Come back as a governess-- you shall have it all your own way”(Thackeray 145). This relates to education because many children in the 19th century did not attend a school, instead they learned at home from a governess, also known as a tutor (Victorian). Most of the governesses were French or English and did not have much education themselves (Bondy). This was usually the case because in society in the 18th and 19th centuries women who knew too much were considered unfeminine (Bondy). Also Rebecca said, “I have been made to tend the little girls in the lower schoolroom, and to talk French to the misses until I grew sick of my mother-tongue” (Thackeray 12). This is relevant to education because young girls were taught French from the time they were little and could usually speak fluently in French by the time they were adults (Bolen). Also in many cases older students were required to teach those younger than them (Hart 94). This was known as the monitor system (Hart 94). The teachers usually only needed to supervise the students (Hart 94). “In music, in dancing, in orthography, in every variety of embroidery and needlework, she will be found to have realized her friends’ fondest wishes” (Thackeray 4). This quote from Vanity Fair relates to education during the time because girls were taught different subjects than young men. Young girls’ education during this time period usually included basic reading and writing as well as feminine activities like needlework and dancing (Bondy). Women were also educated in Shakespearean plays and poetry (Bondy). They also might be taught how to play an instrument and how to sew (Bondy). Singing was also usually taught to young girls because many gentlemen liked to be sung to sleep after eating dinner (Bondy). Girls were educated in these different subjects in the hope to make them as marriable as possible (Bondy). Men during this time were taught Latin, Greek, algebra, and history (Bondy). Girls were not allowed to learn these subjects because they were considered unfeminine and not ladylike (Bondy). Also Rebecca Sharp and Amelia Sedley attended a boarding school for girls called Miss Pinkerton’s academy for young ladies which was located in the Chiswick Mall. Most girls in Victorian and Regency England did not attend school. Although if they were rich they usually were taught at home by a governess or they were sent to a boarding school (Victorian). These boarding schools they attended were known as seminaries (Bondy). Many people frowned on these institutions (Bondy). The teachers at these seminaries had no training or prior education that related to their jobs (Bondy). Thackeray displayed many examples of education in his novel Vanity Fair.
Education is very present in Vanity Fair. Rebecca Sharp is one of the main characters and she is a governess, “Come back as a governess-- you shall have it all your own way”(Thackeray 145). This relates to education because many children in the 19th century did not attend a school, instead they learned at home from a governess, also known as a tutor (Victorian). Most of the governesses were French or English and did not have much education themselves (Bondy). This was usually the case because in society in the 18th and 19th centuries women who knew too much were considered unfeminine (Bondy). Also Rebecca said, “I have been made to tend the little girls in the lower schoolroom, and to talk French to the misses until I grew sick of my mother-tongue” (Thackeray 12). This is relevant to education because young girls were taught French from the time they were little and could usually speak fluently in French by the time they were adults (Bolen). Also in many cases older students were required to teach those younger than them (Hart 94). This was known as the monitor system (Hart 94). The teachers usually only needed to supervise the students (Hart 94). “In music, in dancing, in orthography, in every variety of embroidery and needlework, she will be found to have realized her friends’ fondest wishes” (Thackeray 4). This quote from Vanity Fair relates to education during the time because girls were taught different subjects than young men. Young girls’ education during this time period usually included basic reading and writing as well as feminine activities like needlework and dancing (Bondy). Women were also educated in Shakespearean plays and poetry (Bondy). They also might be taught how to play an instrument and how to sew (Bondy). Singing was also usually taught to young girls because many gentlemen liked to be sung to sleep after eating dinner (Bondy). Girls were educated in these different subjects in the hope to make them as marriable as possible (Bondy). Men during this time were taught Latin, Greek, algebra, and history (Bondy). Girls were not allowed to learn these subjects because they were considered unfeminine and not ladylike (Bondy). Also Rebecca Sharp and Amelia Sedley attended a boarding school for girls called Miss Pinkerton’s academy for young ladies which was located in the Chiswick Mall. Most girls in Victorian and Regency England did not attend school. Although if they were rich they usually were taught at home by a governess or they were sent to a boarding school (Victorian). These boarding schools they attended were known as seminaries (Bondy). Many people frowned on these institutions (Bondy). The teachers at these seminaries had no training or prior education that related to their jobs (Bondy). Thackeray displayed many examples of education in his novel Vanity Fair.