As the many revolutions continued across Europe, the course of education was altered. After Napoleon forced the education to stress military greatness there was a need for more than military strategy to be taught. Once Napoleon was exiled, the French education changed to focus more on the earlier studies including the familiar subjects of grammar, arithmetic, and rhetoric. This time was very important for the furthering of education. There were huge leaps made by the French government in the types of regulations necessary for education across the country. Many things were changed and developed which caused an enormous impact on the already propelling society. The industrial revolution was not the only important event in this history at this time; education reforms were making their way into history as well.This was an era when the education began shifting from educating only the noble and wealthy to educating the greater amounts of population. The altering of education began with a movement focusing on the primary schools of France becoming more civilized and populated. In order to raise attendance rates the cost of schooling needed to be lowered to become accessible for the middle and lower class. Yet, the cost of schooling was not the only factor that affected the growth of schools. The children from the middle and lower classes, also called the laboring class, were expected to help their families within the labor they specialized. This could mean many hours of farming during peak seasons or helping run the family business. These circumstances would cause the child to miss school. Over the years many different options were proposed and finally a law was passed to aid the equalization of schooling. In 1881 on June 16th there was a law of elementary education passed. This law created a governmental supported education that was entitled to children. Several years prior to the law being passed the changes began to be made.
This was quite a struggle. The larger towns could afford to support the changing school systems while the smaller towns weren’t quite as wealthy. The large towns were also aided by the Law of Guizot that provided for the free education of indigents through the parish. The Law of Guizot also forced all communes, or villages, to have a primary school available to all boys. Many of the opponents of the free education believed that what wasn’t paid for wasn’t appreciated. This caused there to be a rise in controversy over how much of the schooling should be free. Some arguments were also made that the rich were being funded by the poor through the free education system. However, Frere Philippe, the superior general at this time, pointed out that the labor class would much rather allow their children to roam the streets than pay for their children to attend school. Thus, appreciating the education of their children through the new education system.
A saying that was very popular throughout France at this time, translated to English says, "One daughter is no problem, two is enough, three is too much, but four daughters and one mother makes five devils against the father." To link with this saying the Law of Guizot stated that depending on the needs and resources of the communes and upon request of the municipal councils, special schools for girls might be established. The goal of France was to educate all boys, excluding the fairer sex. The schools were usually segregated, females attending one school while the male children would attend another. The smaller and less wealthy communes would have to consolidate the schools and intermix the races even though this was a last resort option.
This was also a time when "public" and "private" schools were beginning to become very different. The public schools at this time weren’t associated with the church or parish. The private schools usually expected an extra fee and were affiliated with the church. The only problem that this presented was that there was no law saying that there must be a private and public primary school. So the problem that arouse was that some communes would have only one school being private. In turn, the religious or private schools were better funded, more equipped, and run by the best teachers. There were some schools specifically for girls that were almost as well off as the religious schools. These schools separated the girls according to their place in society. The excess money from the wealthy girls was used to defray the costs of the less wealthy. It did cause a severe problem for the lower class girls. Even though the costs were defrayed they were treated quite a bit differently.
The lay or public schools were the worst off. There were many times when the school would have only one teacher with very poor conditions. They would sometimes convert an old farmhouse into a school. The teacher would make the best of a terrible situation sharing their home with their entire class. In very extreme conditions the school would be held in a barn or stable. This was much different than what had been envisioned with the change in education. The teachers of the public schools were called instuteurs or institutrice and they often had to supplement their survival with two or three side jobs. Sometimes, the classroom would be shared with farm animals such as cows and pigs.
Besides the difference in school buildings for the public and private schools their materials were different as well. The children at the religious private schools were able to use books. The public schools had very little to work with. The teachers were expected to make due with a map of France, an alphabet, a portrait of the reigning monarch and whatever school books or papers the peasant children could get their hands on. The rural public schools wouldn’t always even have all of those resources. The teachers did their best to teach adequate lessons with inadequate materials.
The children in schools at this time were often punished in brutal ways as well. Some teachers would resort to beating the children with anything from a wooden rod to a birch tree whip. It was expected that the children learn to mind and use manners in class so their punishment could be extreme. The parents usually supported the corporal punishment. It was understood that the child could handle the punishment if they choose to act up in class.
The education system in France grew greatly over the eighteen hundreds. The system began to include the lower and middle classes and stressed the importance of knowledge. As the government began to understand the countries needs for diverse education there were educational laws passed. From the military geniuses of Napoleon to the methods of Guizot the French people changed the course of education greatly.
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