|
The hospital schools date back to the medieval era. They even predate the modern meaning of word 'hospital as a place to care for the sick or injured which did not begin to take hold until the early modern era (16th century). Earlier hospital meant a place for weary travelers or other needy groups.. 'Hospice' and 'hospitality' have similar origins. Hospitals were charitable institutions usually created by religious orders. Thus as schools began to be formed for needy children, the term hospital was in some cases adopted. They were places for youths, only boys, operated by church groups. Some had specific orientations. Christ’s Hospital School, founded in London (16th century) had a religious intent. These schools commonly prepared boys for a religious life (church or monastery) or for administrative roles in government and business. As Britain's public schools (meaning elite private boarding schools) developed the hospital schools continued as a charitable schools for the poor or children from families that could not afford a public school education. The age of the boys is unclear, but as in the public schools they were not all teenagers at the modern secondary level. In fact in the medieval and early- modern era, they may have been many younger boys. Even into the early 20th century, these schools taught not only academic subjects but a range of practical skills, including engineering, wood and ironwork which the public schools rejected as working-class matters. Many hospital schools opened their own farms to feed the students who worked at the farms. We note preparatory level boys still at the hospital school (19th century). The same was true in the public schools. Preparatory schools schools began to be founded to deal the younger boys at public schools (mid-19th century). As far as we know, there are no hospital preparatory schools, but some hospital schools accept boys a little younger than most public schools. In the 20th century, especially after World War II (1939-45), the schools for largely financial reasons have had to move away from the more charitable aspects. This varies from school to school and most still have some charitable efforts. But they are not state schools and this have to finance their operations. Like other private schools they face rising costs. And they find themselves in competition with the public schools and have to produce competitive examination results. Of course the rise of a national state school system has largely ended the need for charity schools. Britain created a national state primary system (1870), later than in America and Germany. After World War II (1939-45) massively expanded the secondary system. A recent development at these schools has been a shift to coeducation, following the trend at many public schools. The hospital schools are now basically public schools with colorful distinctive origins.
Related Chronolgy Pages in the Boys' Historical Web Site
[The 1880s]
[The 1930s]
[The 1940s]
[The 1950s]
[The 1960s]
[The 1970s]
[The 1980s]
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing School Uniform Pages
[Return to the Main English Hospital School Page]
[Return to the Main English School Type Individual School Page]
[Return to the Main School Page]
[Australia]
[England]
[France]
[Germany]
[Italy]
[Japan]
[New Zealand]
[Scotland]
[United States]
Navigate the HBC Shool Section:
[About Us]
[Activities]
[Chronology]
[Clothing styles]
[Countries]
[Debate]
[Economics]
[Garment]
[Gender]
[Hair]
[History]
[Home trends]
[Literary characters]
[School types]
[Significance]
[Transport and travel
[Uniform regulations]
[Year level]
[Other topics]
[Images]
[Links]
[Registration]
[Tools]
[Return to the Historic Boys' School Home]
