Figure 1.--This CDV portraitshiws an unidentified group. Most likely it was a school group, a ckass of a small private school or perhaps a groupnyje lady here was educating in her home. ASpparently they were all inciouraged to wear pinafores. Thery look to be about 10 years old. The portartait was taken December 6, 1902. The studio was C. Kramer in Rotterdam. /i>

The Dutch school system was similar to other Protestant countries in Western Europe. The Dutch had a an excellent school system with very high standards, in part because it was one of the wealthiest countries in Europe. Because of the high academic standasrds, as in Germany, there were relatively few private schools in the Netherlands. Protestant countries, including the United States, tended to lead in public education. This was largely because of Luther's and other Protestant leaders' emphasis on Bible reading. And of course this was only possible if the population was litereate, This led directly to public education, most prominently in America and Germany. Education was almost entirely for boys. But this gradually changed in Protestsnt cointries because it was important for boys as wells as girls to read he Bible. This was not only for their own salvation, but because of the need for mothers to help teach their children to read. (At the time of the Reformation, there were no public schools (16th century). By the turn-of-the 20th century, the Dutch and other Europen countries had public schools. For the most part this meant primary schooling. There were secondary schools, but most children only attended primary schools. Secondary and univerrsity education was selective as well as involved costs. As a result, few working class children continued their education beyond primary school. Gender was also a factor. While most Dutch children completed their primary edication, many parents did not think secondary or university education was all that important for girls. Thus far more boys than girls continued their education beyond primary school. Here we are not sure how the Netherlands compared to Britain, France, and Germany. Secondary schools were mostly single gender. After World War II there were major reforms with the adoption of coeducation and the opening of opportunities for working-class children.

Created: 11:18 PM 5/11/2023
Last updated: 11:18 PM 5/11/2023