17th and 18th century dame schools The origins of dame schools are unknown. They seem to have naturally evolved from a demand for accessible early childhood education and cheap, convenient childcare. Dame schools did not form a network; instead, they were independently run by women in their own local areas. Many of these teachers were either impoverished middle class widows or older unmarried women, or young, unmarried women who needed additional income. A few dame schools were taught by men. School dames often only charged a few
shillings in fees. For instance, Dame Seamer of
Darlington, Durham was recorded as receiving four shillings a year per pupil. In the mid-17th century, that sum would be roughly four days wages for a skilled tradesman, and a loaf of bread cost approximately sixpence. Dame school pupils were the children of tradesmen and labouring parents, and in many cases, a dame school education was the only form of education these children ever received. Even so, during the eighteenth century a rising movement discouraged working-class children from learning to write, so in some cases dame school pupils may not have been taught writing at all. The ability to read the Bible, however, was viewed as a religious obligation, so learning to read was always encouraged. Some school dames would teach their pupils the
Catechism, or would invite the local clergyman to teach children the catechism during class time. Girls in particular would be taught how to knit at school, providing them with an important vocational skill. However, it is difficult to estimate an exact number of dame schools in England during a given time period: while school masters and mistresses were licensed, the informal nature of the dame school makes documentation of them scarce. Some offered only child care, while others also offered education. In 1861, the
Newcastle Commission surveyed schools across Britain, including many dame schools. The commission reported that 2,213,694 children of the poorer classes were in elementary day schools. Of that number, 573,536 were attending private schools, including dame schools. The commission painted a woeful portrait of dame schools, stating that they failed to provide children with an education that would be serviceable to them later in life. The
Elementary Education Act 1870 (
33 & 34 Vict. c. 75), a product of the Newcastle Commission, set the framework for schooling of all children between the ages of 5 and 12 in England and Wales. Subsequently, most dame schools closed since there were now new educational facilities available for children. As late as 1850, around 30 percent of all children attended Dame schools.
Notable dame school attendees •
William Wordsworth: attended a dame school in
Penrith, Cumbria, under the teacher Mrs. Anne Birkett. It was there that he met his wife, Mary Hutchinson. Of his dame school experience, he said, “The old Dame school did not affect to make theologians, or logicians, but, she taught to read, and she practised the memory, often no doubt by rote; but still the faculty was improved. Something perhaps she explained, and left the rest to the parents, to masters, and to the master of the parish.” •
John Keats: attended a dame school in London. •
Oliver Goldsmith: learnt his letters from Mrs Delap at her dame school. •
Charles Dickens: attended a school established by a mistress on Rome Lane in
Chatham, Kent. In his novel
Great Expectations, Dickens’ protagonist
Pip attends a dame school taught by Mr. Wopsle’s great-aunt, which is described as being nearly entirely useless. •
William Shenstone: wrote
The Schoolmistress, A Poem based on his experience at a dame school. •
George Crabbe: wrote a poem based on his experience at a dame school in his
Poems: Volume 1. == North America ==