The Industrial School

Aims of the Industrial School

Industrial schools had two main aims: to instil in the children the habit of working and to develop the latent potential of the destitute child.

Industrial schools were intended to help those children who were destitute but who had not yet committed any serious crime – the homeless; beggars; those wandering with no visible means of support; those beyond the control of their parents; those in the company of known thieves. They also included some children who had committed offences punishable by imprisonment. The idea was to remove the child from bad influences, give them an education and teach them a trade. It was also felt that although the ragged schools were fulfilling a need, the provision they provided did not go far enough. The children needed to be removed from the environment in which they had been living. Depending on the circumstances of the child, they either attended the school daily or they were able to live in. Some of the children at the Ardwick Green school came from as far away as London; ‘cockney’ accents were common in the playground.

Life in the school

In its early months the Ardwick school received 136 children; there was accommodation for 200 outdoor and 100 indoor cases, the youngest nine years of age, and the authorities were able to obtain employment for many of those who left school. Five boys were employed at letterpress printing and it was recorded that in the year 1858-59 the following items were printed:

A journeyman and eight boys also carried out shoe and clog-making. Other occupations included bristle-sorting, canvas bag making, tailoring, chip-cutting (firewood), sewing, washhouse and laundry.

Such was the life of the children who first entered the premises in Ardwick Green.

Dormitory accommodation

This was provided at the institution for three classes of youngsters. First, the destitute cases having neither friends nor homes. Second, refractory children, whose vicious or idle habits had been a constant source of anxiety and annoyance to their friends and neighbours. These were children who were stubborn and rebellious, failing to respond to advice or correction. Third, those cases received under the provision of the Industrial Schools’ Act. The former two cases were voluntary, the latter cases compulsory.

Background

A report of 1859 showed that the children were born over a wide area. It stated:

“There are now children in the [Ardwick] school who first saw light in Manchester, Salford, Hulme, Chorlton, Broughton, Eccles, Stockport, Wigan, Oldham, Leeds, Birmingham, Newcastle-under-Line, Macclesfield, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dublin, Connaught, Gibraltar and Genoa.”

The school comprised “children of various dispositions, habits and manners”; that was the day-to-day challenge facing the Governor, Matron and the small instruction staff.

Visits

Over the years the school was frequently visited by dignitaries from far and wide. On one such visit in 1859, Lord Stanley, MP, toured the premises with a group of guests and remarked how impressed they all were with what they had seen.

Inspections

Inspections by Her Majesty’s Inspectors were carried out regularly, with favourable comments generally being made on behalf of the work of the staff and the good behaviour and progress of the children.

Improvements

Further improvement to the premises in 1863-64 included the addition of an infirmary, enlargement of the girls’ dormitory, and a partitioning of the boys’ dormitory to allow better supervision. In addition to their school work, the boys were instructed in tailoring, shoemaking, printing, paper-bag making, firewood cutting and carpentry. The girls were taught needlework, and the older ones assisted in the housework and laundry.

Annual Meetings

Towards the end of each year a meeting would take place at which a detailed report would be delivered containing information, facts and statistics about many aspects of life at the school. The venues for the meetings varied and included the Manchester Town Hall, Ardwick Town Hall and the dining hall of the institution itself; at some, the Lord Mayor of Manchester was in the chair. By 1866-67 it was reported that the school was full, and “has been for some time”. There was a call even then to have another Industrial School built in Manchester to accommodate the growing number of cases.

Example of an Annual Report, 1868

To illustrate the nature of the reports and the workings of the committee, information is included below as an example. The report for 1867-68 included the following:

“The efforts of your Committee during another year have been crowned with a large amount of success. The Pupils of the [Ardwick] School have increased in number, and the funds have not been wanting; while the general results of the Committee, Governor and Matron, have been evident in the good conduct and progress of the children. Considering the class of children gathered together in our Schools, under the most uncompromising circumstances, it is truly a matter of surprise that their conduct generally is so remarkably good. Exceptions sometimes occur, but we may truly say in this case, the exceptions are proof of the rule.”

The same report mentioned that accommodation was becoming a problem and there were plans to build additional dormitories and workshops on spare land at the back of the school. The health of the scholars had continued to be generally very good. Food was good and plentiful. Industrial training of the children was succeeding. Habits of industry were being inculcated with care, with many children developing a love of work. Moral and religious habits were also developed.

As far as the girls were concerned, they were kept busy as the following table shows.

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