The Process

                               
 Go to Stage 2                Go to Stage 3                Go to Stage 4

Stage 1    
                       You need some background information first of all, and you will need to make notes from the Internet site you are about to visit for this information.  This site tells you how children were treated before 1880 when most of them worked in factories, mills and down coal mines.  It was not until after 1880 that all children had to go to school.  At first they even had to pay a few pence for their education.

Spend some time looking at this first site, as it will give you a good idea of what the children were like when they entered school for the first time.  Look at the clothes, and think of the injuries and diseases some of them had.  Make some notes as you explore each of the sections below:

Scavengers     Working Hours     Deformities     Accidents

Workhouse children - plus any other sources of information you may want to explore.

Click on the picture for a brilliant site which gives you details of what working conditions were like for children.
(Scroll down the page for the best items)

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STAGE 2

Here comes the difficult bit, you might need some help from your teacher at this stage.  Think back to what the children were like, then think of the job teachers had in educating them.  Discuss with your teacher what would be the most important responsibilities schools had in Victorian Times.

Here are some clues

Children were dirty, carried diseases, some stole to get food.
Their homes were cramped and overcrowded, with no clean running water.
Parents could not read or write and were forced to send their children out to work to support the family.  They themselves worked long hours in harsh conditions.

You will probably have about 4 or 5 main points and these will help you with the writing of the school handbook.

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STAGE 3

Most School Handbooks were (and still are) divided into sections and it might be an idea for you to follow this plan.

1.The School buildings
2. The Staff
3. The subjects taught (Timetable)
4. Discipline, how the children are expected to work and behave.

Using your notebook you can now start on the exciting bit of exploring the Web sites.  Don't forget that the Internet is not the only place to get information from.  You could also use reference books, photographs etc.

Educate the child This site gives you detailed information on a school day, school rules and a punishment sheet.

School Log Book Explore the log book to see how difficult it was to get children to attend school.

'One thing needful'  This is an excerpt from Charles Dickens' book 'Hard Times' which tells you what the teachers were like and how they taught their pupils.

'Murdering the innocents'  This is another excerpt from Charles Dickens' book 'Hard Times' which tells you what was taught in schools, and (this will surprise you) how it was taught.

The Schoolroom  This is an account of what it must have been like to go to school in Victorian times - written by a group of children who experienced it (well - almost!).

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STAGE 4

You should have lots of information by now, so lets get started with the handbook.

If you want a 'layout planning sheet' click here.

Keep thinking about the following points when you are planning and deciding;

1. Think about  suitable fonts, borders and clipart to accompany a Victorian Handbook.

ictorian    andbook

2. You are trying to 'Persuade' your audience to send their children to your school.

3.  For each aspect covered, think about the 'good points' that your school has.  For example, your school has high windows with arches so that children cannot see out and are not distracted from their work!! (common in those days).  The arches remind them that they are in a holy place, like a church so silence is a must!  (Children were expected to work in complete silence, and were punished quite severely if they spoke just once to their neighbour.)

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