Genealogy Chat

When I check the census records almost all the children from age 6 are "Scholars" but when it comes to the marriage certs. 9 out of ten have "X" their mark because they couldn't read or write. What did they learn as scholars?

think children did part time work as well as school, and then a lot of them were kept away from school to help look after siblings, no wonder half of them only signed x.

Maybe someone else knows when schooling became compulsery?

Chris.

The Education act came in 1870 (Feb 13th according to Wikipedia) - it said elementary education was to be provided for children by the Board of Education for all children between 5 and 12 years. If you look the article up there is quite a bit about it.

Having said that, I've seen children as young as three listed as "scholar" on a census.

As I understand it, some of the vicars or parish clerks did not ask the bride and groom and witnesses to sign, they merely put their names in to save time. After all there were often a lot of marriages on that day.

Scholar ~ from 1861 onwards a child was described as a scholar if he/she was over 5 and receiving daily schooling or regular tuition at home. There was no definition of the latter. In 1871 the census officials in London broke the confidentiality pledge and divulged the names of all children 3-13 and their parents (with addresses) to the London School Board to help enforce compulsory education.

From: http://homepage.ntlworld.com/hitch/gendocs/abbrcen.html

Also, I read in one of my Victorian history books that a lot of people from the middle/lower classes signed with an X because they did not want to appear "above their station", so to speak, even if they were literate. Talk about being modest! Funny old world, eh?

Athena

Amazingly a lot of country children were better educated than city kids because the local Lord of the Manor, or estate owner would take it upon himself to provide a school alongside the church.

The children were taught to read and write and count (and of course R.E.) - all things necessary to become the next generation of workers for the estate.

And yes, often they could sign but an x appears on the documents - sometimes you can get a full signature in beautiful writing and an x on the next bit of paperwork you come across, so dont think they are illiterate because of it!

Some time back I was reading an interesting article about Sunday Schools - these schools were set up in city areas - the one day when slum kids could get a proper meal and some education. The government of the time became worried that these Sunday Schools were creating rebellious ideas in the children and their fear brought about the Education Act. (education that was under their control!)