Education, industry and the community; Jarrow secondary school, 1911 - 1944

Abstract

This thesis investigates the relationship between Jarrow Secondary School and the socio-economic life of the district, between 1911 and 1944. In particular, it examines the effect the school had upon the social mobility of those people who passed through its system, and the influence their education had upon the welfare of the community. To study just what impact this secondary school had upon its community, it was necessary to look at the background of the area, along with the educational developments which led to the building of the school. Both documented evidence and text books provided this vital information. Personal interviews with ex-pupils who attended the school at that time, proved to be both an enlightening and enlivening source of evidence. These interviews not only corroborated documentation and shed light onto the internal mechanism of the school, but also gave tangible evidence as to what transpired once pupils were assimilated into the working environment of the district. The nature of the educational system operating in Jarrow, with graduated levels in the different educational establishments, mirrored the perceived needs of the district. This allows further research, not only covering the secondary school and its effects on the district but also encompassing the other forms of education available and the roles they fulfilled within the community.