Figure 1.--. |
|
There was of course no comprehensive national educational system in medieval England. As a result a variety of different schools developed. England like other European countries had a variety of different schools. Few children at the time attended these schools and the quality of the teaching was often very poor. I am not sure what kind of schools excisted in England during the Roman era. The only schools we know of in the ealy medieval period (5th and 6th centuries) schools operated by the Church. Although information is limited this must be the case as very few people were literate, including the aristocracy. The few people who were literate were priests, and only some of them. The earliest schools we know of are song schools at cathedrals and monestaries. Song schools served not only to provide coral singers to add to church services, but also to train priests. At first most of the boys in early song schools were preparing for a religious vocation. Thus the St. Albans Chour School is sometimes looked on as the first English school tracing its origins to the monestary sing school in the 6th century. Gradually other schools developed in early medieval England. Unfortunately information on these schools is very limited. Some
paish churches set up informal schools. Some monastaries set up almonry schools for the poor. There were also chantry schools. These were also church schools. As the medieval era progressed schools with more secular foundation appeared, but were often still associated with the church either through the curriculum or religious scholars who taught in the schools. The first secular schools which appeared were the schools founded by the guilds which were organized in medieval cities. Then grammar schools began to appear. The grammar schools became a key institution in English education. Much of our knowledge is of the more fully evolved grammar schools from the late medieval era. Many of these schools had royal sponsors, several still operatingbin England bear the name of their royal sponsors.
A major development in English education was the appearance of universities (10th century). English universities evolved in cathedral citirs, probably from early grammar schools.
There was of course no comprehensive national educational system in medieval England. As a result a variety of different schools developed. England like other European countries had a variety of different schools. Few children at the time attended these schools. The vast majority of children in medieval England never attended schools, virtually no girls and few boys. The quality of the teaching was often very poor.
I am not sure what kind of schools excisted in England during the Roman era. One would expect that in the cities there would have been scools along the Roman model. Mamy Romans in Britain are literate, there are even surviving letters. This changed with the recall of the Legions and the decline of Roman culture.
The only schools we know of in the ealy medieval period (5th and 6th centuries) schools operated by the Church. Although information is limited this must be the case as very few people were literate, including the aristocracy. The few people who were literate were priests, and only some of them. The Church unlike other sectors of early medieval societty needed schools because priests needed to read the Bible and learn the liturgy, all of which was in Latin. Churches and monasteries thus begun to set up schools for boys to train them as monks or priests. As the monastic life style grew in importance, girls were also trained as nuns.
School especially secular schools are urban insitutions. Thus the development of education and schools in intertwined with the economic developments, especially the increasibngly sophisticated economy which slowly evolved after the Dark Ages. Early schools were suported solely by the Church through cathedrals, monastaries, and parishes. Gradualyy with tge rise of the artisan amd merchant class other schools appeared. The guilds were an especially important medieval institution and some of the earliest secular schools, at least as secular as possibke at the time, were the guild schools. Towns as they grew in size also began sponsoring schools like the grammar schools. There were schools endowed by wealthy patrons such as the king and wealthy merchants.
The earliest schools we know of are song schools at cathedrals and monestaries. Song schools served not only to provide coral singers to add to church services, but also to train priests. At first most of the boys in early song schools were preparing for a religious vocation. Thus the St. Albans Chour School is sometimes looked on as the first English school tracing its origins to the monestary sing school in the 6th century. Gradually other schools developed in early medieval England. Unfortunately information on these schools is very limited. Some
paish churches set up informal schools. Some monastaries set up almonry schools for the poor. There were also chantry schools. These were also church schools. A chantry is an endowment for singing or saying mass for that person's soul or a designated person. As the medieval era progressed schools with more secular foundation appeared, but were often still associated with the church either through the curriculum or religious scholars who taught in the schools. The first secular schools which appeared were the schools founded by the guilds which were organized in medieval cities. Then grammar schools began to appear. The grammar schools became a key institution in English education. Our knowledge of early grammar schools is limited. Some early grammar schools were really petty schools. Much of our knowledge is of the more fully evolved grammar schools from the late medieval era. Gradually some grammar schools developed into more sophisticated establishments. Many of these schools had royal sponsors, several still operating in England bear the name of their royal sponsors. The Tudors were especially renowned for founding grammar schools. These schools became known as public schools and began to appear at the close of the medieval era in the 15th century. Two of the earliest were Winchester and Eton. Eton is England's best known and most prestigious public scchool. King Henry VI founded Eton in 1440. The public school is a uniquely English institution. The term is actually confusing because in other countries the term "public school" is used to describe a state-supported school. The term was adopted in England because admission was open to the public, at least the public which could aford the fees. Public schools unlike the grammar schools were boarding schools. Thus they could attract pupils from distant localities and not excluively just the town or immediate vacinity. Of course the schools often drew many of their pupils from the surrounding area, especially as more and more public schools were founded. English public schools actually exclusive private schools for, primarily for boys from affluent familiesare anything but public. The tradition of boarding continues at many public schools today.
The curriculum at early medieval schools was rudimentary with the instructors themselves having very limited educations. Boys were taught the alphabet and at some very basis math. Religion was a principal part of the early curriculum at these schools. Often boys learned to read from a psalter or psalmbooks. This was the Book of Psalms from the Bible written in especially poetic form. There was also instruction in religious rites and Biblical lessons.
The curriculum expanded with the development of grammar schools. We note grammar schools being founded in England during the 12th century. One such school was the Lancaster Grammar School, one of the earliest such schools in England. The grammar schools focused on teaching Latin. These were not schools in the sence the term is used in American meaning primary school. The study of Latin grammar gave the schools the name of grammar schools. Boys studied grammar, composition, and translation. Religion was also an important part of the curriculum, especially in the early grammar schools.
A major development in English education was the appearance of universities (10th century). English universities evolved in cathedral citirs, probably from early grammar schools. Universities were at first largely church supported institutions explaining why they first appeared in cathedral cities. Oxford is the oldest university in England. It probably began as a grammar school, although the precise origins are not well understood. Oxford University began to develop in the 10th century, but it did not evove into a true university until the 12th century. Another early university developed around the cathedral in Cambridge. More is known about the fonding of Cambridge. Apparently Oxford students fled there because of violence in Oxford.
Navigate the Relate Boys Historical Clothing Uniform Pages
[Return to the Main medieval education page]
[Return to the Main medieval page]
[Return to the Main English school chronology page]
[Main garment page]
[Blazers]
[Bookbag]
[Caps]
[Coats]
[Hose]
[Kilts]
[Pants]
[Shirts]
[Shoes]
[Smocks
[Suits]
[Seaters]
[Ties]
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Page
[About Us]
[Activities]
[Chronology]
[Clothing styles]
[Countries]
[Debate]
[Economics]
[Garment]
[Gender]
[Hair]
[History]
[Home trends]
[Literary characters]
[School types]
[Significance]
[Transport and travel
[Uniform regulations]
[Year level]
[Other topics]
[Images]
[Links]
[Registration]
[Tools]
[Return to the Historic Boys' School Home]
