Dame Schools

Dame Schools was a common tern used to describe small private schools that provided an education for working class children before they were old enough to work. These schools were usually run by an elderly woman who taught the children to read and write and other useful skills such as sewing. Fees were about 3d. a week and the quality of education that the children received varied enormously. Whereas some teachers provided a good education, others were no more than child-minders.