School terms 1880s
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The school year was much longer in 1880. The Public Instruction Act of 1880 states that there were two ‘half-years’(semesters) with a two week mid-winter break and three weeks at Christmas.
School grades were arranged differently to today with some grades extending over 18 months. The grades were 1st Class (three half-years), 2nd Class (three half-years), 3rd Class (three half-years), 4th Class (two half-years) and 5th Class (two half-years). Most students left school at age 13 or 14 to commence work.