Young boys of the wealthy, generally, received a tutor about the same time as he received a valet to take over his care. Early curriculums included Latin, French mathematics, science, geography, and history. Later, a more intense study of literature and mathematics was included, along with philosophy and, perhaps, Greek. To all of the above were added the necessary social graces required of a young gentleman. Sporting activities such as hunting and riding were also part of his education. Fencing and boxing were not required, but often part of his education. He might also study music or art.
The only free schools available were run by government-funded organizations or philanthropic or religious groups. Those of us who know something of Jane Austen’s life know that Cassandra and Jane attended such a school in Oxford. Jane reportedly despised the school and returned home after only a year.
Such a school was where the heroine Jane Eyre attended. In Pride and Prejudice, we learn something of Caroline Bingley’s attitude in this description of her schooling: “They were in fact very fine ladies; not deficient in good-humour when they were pleased, nor in the power of being agreeable where they chose it, but proud and conceited. They were rather handsome, had been educated in one of the first private seminaries in town, had a fortune of twenty thousand pounds, were in the habit of spending more than they ought, and of associating with people of rank, and were therefore in every respect entitled to think well of themselves, and meanly of others. They were of a respectable family in the north of England; a circumstance more deeply impressed on their memories than that their brother’s fortune and their own had been acquired by trade.”
In Lost in the Lyon’s Garden, we learn that the heroine, Miss Victoria Whitchurch, has spent the last few years, first as a student and then as a teacher at an all-girls school in Bath. This was a boarding school, though there were assuredly “day” students, who returned home each evening.
Boys also attended private schools, though they were referred to as “public schools.” Schools such as Eton, Winchester, Rugby, Shewsbury, Westminster, Charterhouse, and Harrow fit into this classification. Twelve was generally the age of first attending, but some boys were there at ages 9 or 10, depending upon their circumstances. “Charity” cases were accepted, but those boys would normally have a harder row to hoe because the fact their parents could not pay for their education was common knowledge among the staff and the students. A number of scholarships were available for those with high academic potential, but, again, the child’s standing would be well known by one and all.
Let us break the education system down in simpler terms:
For Boys
- “Public Schools”: Wealthy boys were often sent to “public schools,” which are now called private schools.
- Examples: Elite schools included Eton, Harrow, Winchester, Westminster, Rugby, Charterhouse, and Shrewsbury.
- Purpose: The primary goal was to prepare boys for university and entry into the aristocracy or gentry.
- Daily Life: School days were highly regimented but offered little direct supervision, with boys often living in boarding houses overseen by a “Dame”.
For Girls
- Boarding Schools: Wealthier girls also attended boarding schools, with examples like the one attended by Jane Austen at Reading Abbey Girls’ School.
- Home Education: Many girls from wealthy families were educated at home by governesses and tutors, a common alternative to boarding school.
- Purpose: Education for girls focused on accomplishments suitable for managing a household, social skills, and preparation for marriage and family life.
General Education
- Varied by Class: Education was highly dependent on social class and family finances, with no universal public school system in place.
- Curriculum: The curriculum for both boys and girls differed significantly from modern education, focusing on different subjects and skill sets.
- Alternative: Tutors: Wealthier children who did not attend boarding school often received education from private tutors.
Other Sources:
Every Woman Dreams... 