An economic study of elementary: education in county Durham in the early part of the nineteenth century

Abstract

In the early years of the century the funds for public elementary education came principally from the charities which had been established in the previous centuries, the best local examples being those associated with the Blue Coats and with Lord Crewe. Crewe's work In County Durham was continued and surpassed in value by Bishop Barrington's efforts in the first two decades of the 19th Century, especially in his relationship with the Barrington Schools, the Weardale Schools Committee and the Diocesan School Society. Between 1810 and 1850 the National Society became predominant in the public sector of elementary education in County Durham, the other societies being dwarfed by its efforts. But by 1850the State v/as beginning to accept the leading position as a provider of funds for elementary education. Of less significance in money value was the philanthropic work of industry, such as that of the lead companies, the Londonderry family, the coal-owners and the iron-masters. The poor children in the workhouses, were either educated in workhouse schools if these existed or at schools nearby. Supplementing these efforts was the private sector of education where large numbers of small schools educated, at times, as many children as were to be found in total in other schools. An estimate of the amount spent on elementary education out of National Income in 1851 gives about 0.3 per.cent, as compared with approximately 1,3 percent, today. In the context of disease, poverty, malnutrition and inadequate sanitation such as existed in the mid-19th Century the 0.3 per cent seems to represent a greater sacrifice in economic terms than the 1.3 per.cent, does today.