School days 1880s

Posted on in General

School class photograph.

We had an email enquiry from 7 year old Mia who wondered if children used to go to school on Saturdays. In the 1880s the school days were Monday to Friday but the working week included Saturday. Sunday was a day of rest when many people would have attended church. From 1880 school was compulsory and children were required to attend school from the time they were 6 years of age to 14 years of age. They had to be at school for a minimum of 140 days every year. Below is the daily timetable from the Public Instruction Act of 1880.

(Photo: Glynburn PS 1890s)

Screenshot 2014-08-24 10.42.53