Before the Industrial Revolution and reforms, education wasscarce, expensive, and restricted to males. The only formaleducation provided to British children were religious schools.Reformers believed that they needed to have a literate workforceand that education should be available to even the poorest.
By the late 1800s, reformers fought to have the government setup public schools and require basic education for all children. Inschools, students were taught discipline, patriotism, and workhabits. In 1833, the government passed the Factory Act making twohours of education a day compulsory for children working infactories. The government also granted money to charities forschools for the first time. In 1844, the Ragged Schools Union wasset up to give schooling to very poor children. In 1880, theEducation Act made school attendance compulsory for children up tothe age of 10. The 1902 Education Act established a system ofsecondary schools or high schools. Reforms also led to the openingof colleges and universities as well as libraries.
In your doc...
1. Why did this reform movement begin?
2. What were the goals of this reform movement?
3. What impact did this reform movement have?
