They way that we educate our children has come a long way throughout history and some of the most notable changes have come to fruition in the last 200 years. In the 18th century, the majority of schools were run by charities of churches and were mainly attended by wealthy boys, as girls were often believed to be needed to take care of the home. Today we have one of the best education systems in the world and the government are far more involved with the way our children are taught and the things they are taught too. So, what are the biggest comparisons to schools today compared to in the 18th century?
Health
While we are having to battle against rising levels of childhood obesity, children today as far healthier than those who attended school during the 18th century. Diet, for a start, is better and meals are far more regular. The spread of diseases has also been controlled and while children get ill now, the spread of serious illnesses has all but disappeared. This is vastly due to improved conditions in classrooms, from over-crowding to being taught in damp and cold rooms. Today’s classrooms feature a much more nurturing environment.
Classes
Students now receive a much more comprehensive and ability focused approach to their education. Students are now grouped by their age and learning ability. Similarly, we now have a range of classes to ensure that children with particular difficulties are dealt with in the best way possible to ensure no child gets left out of receiving an education. This was a vastly different picture in the 1800’s, where children with disabilities were not given as warm a welcome.
Play
Play and playground equipment are an interesting topic to discuss in that big changes began to take place when it came to this area in the 1800s and has impacted the way children play today. Doctors in the 18th century began to specialize in children’s health and development and began to separate them from adults. Dr. Abraham Jacobi referred to as being the father of pediatrics, was able to be the first person to devote his studies to the care of young people and opened his first outpatient clinic. This helped create a ripple effect to other parts of the world.
Work
One of the most significant changes to education now and in the 1800s is the fact that children today do not need to go to work like they did in the past. Parents are not reluctant to send their children to receive an education as children are not relied upon to help contribute to the household income as they once did.
The biggest factor that has improved education over the years has to be the introduction of new laws and regulation that meant children are more protected from being mistreated and also treated as children should be- not focusing on work and more on playing, learning, and development.