{"id":3758,"date":"2025-01-28T22:54:23","date_gmt":"2025-01-28T22:54:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/london-yes.com\/?p=3758"},"modified":"2025-01-28T22:54:25","modified_gmt":"2025-01-28T22:54:25","slug":"how-did-children-study-in-london-during-the-wars","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/london-yes.com\/en\/eternal\/how-did-children-study-in-london-during-the-wars","title":{"rendered":"How did children study in London during the wars?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>London&#8217;s history was not only about development and improvement. The city&#8217;s past saw many tragic and difficult events, as it also experienced wars. Children&#8217;s education continued even in difficult wartime conditions. Learn more at <a href=\"https:\/\/london-yes.com\/en\">london-yes<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These were times not only of the struggle for freedom but also of meeting a new reality for all <a href=\"https:\/\/ilondon.info\/uk\/eternal-pro-shho-mozhe-rozpovisty-istoriya-pohodzhennya-nazvy-stolyczi-velykoyi-brytaniyi\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Londoners<\/a>, including children. The education system had to adapt to extreme conditions in order to provide children with knowledge and support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_76 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a2dac9fd9b35\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a2dac9fd9b35\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/london-yes.com\/en\/eternal\/how-did-children-study-in-london-during-the-wars\/#Children_and_the_First_World_War\" >Children and the First World War<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/london-yes.com\/en\/eternal\/how-did-children-study-in-london-during-the-wars\/#Education_during_World_War_II\" >Education during World War II<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/london-yes.com\/en\/eternal\/how-did-children-study-in-london-during-the-wars\/#Bomb_shelters\" >Bomb shelters<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/london-yes.com\/en\/eternal\/how-did-children-study-in-london-during-the-wars\/#Changes_in_schoolchildrens_lives\" >Changes in schoolchildren\u2019s lives<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Children_and_the_First_World_War\"><\/span>Children and the First World War<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The First World War caused global and local changes. The basic education system had been formed in Great Britain by 1914, although most children didn\u2019t study after the age of 12. During the First World War, the education system in London was thoroughly revised. Due to significant challenges and war needs, education still remained basic. School attendance fell significantly at the beginning of the war, as children were forced to work or look after younger siblings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then the government began to introduce support to children, for example, free school meals, which made life easier for parents. Many schools were also repurposed for military needs. They housed ammunition and refugees. Children studied part-time or in shifts to reduce the risks of crowding during bombings while still giving parents the opportunity to work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A new education act passed in 1918 stated that education was compulsory up to the age of 14. It also introduced special classes for teenagers who were forced to work, which made it possible for them to study during the difficult war and post-war years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Education_during_World_War_II\"><\/span>Education during World War II<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>From the 1930s, Great Britain, and in particular London, began preparing for a new possible war. There were fears that civilians would be attacked too, so the authorities developed plans of protection from raids. During the Munich Crisis of 1938, it became clear that war was imminent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.london-yes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/54\/2024\/12\/ad_4nxdlzxlyq6fqfpyp0mkkexflavgqbba_do5wc4b0bcckgfdlznyfmsm8iclspin6osufh8wg7pztmk_l6owjapxyzhxlr6whj_vjsdu9cmw4nedofougjnscxelbnzqm6asyui27keynykowaw8tz9pol389_gyj7wl.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The Second World War left its mark on the lives of London schoolchildren. It was a major shock for them, as more than a million people were taken from their native towns and villages. They cried and were scared because they had to be separated from their families and friends. The children who remained in the city experienced bombing, injuries, the destruction of their homes and the death of their relatives. They faced the threat of gas attacks, precautions during air raids, rationing and changes in school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After the declaration of war in September 1939, the British government began a large-scale evacuation of children from London and other cities to the countryside. It was called Operation Pied Piper. In the first three days, authorities managed to resettle more than 1.5 million children. They also had to organise camps for children run by teachers. Instead, the government decided to use private homes for temporary housing. Evacuation wasn\u2019t mandatory, but people were encouraged to move to safer places.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Children had to get used to the new conditions. The education process took place in halls, various rooms, churches, village clubs, warehouses and residential houses. The school programme was greatly simplified because of limited resources. Still, teachers tried to give the children basic knowledge. It is worth noting that about 50% of the evacuated children didn\u2019t have schools to attend. Schoolchildren who remained in the metropolis often spent time on the streets. It led to an increase in hooliganism, which was even directed at public bomb shelters. Also, due to the closure of schools, children from low-income families were left without medical examinations, free milk and school lunches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Bomb_shelters\"><\/span>Bomb shelters<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>London suffered from German air raids during the Blitz of 1940-1941, but classes were still held in deep bomb shelters. Teachers tried to somehow provide stability for schoolchildren. There was a period when London was bombed for 57 nights in a row. Thousands of buildings were destroyed and the streets turned into ruins. It was difficult to concentrate on studying then.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.london-yes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/54\/2024\/12\/ad_4nxd3lkeylfcv0uzja-wextqu3qcp38mflhunxtzifo-8vyryqrg7xd35cv3orgjspivhsloylsggqdz7q1f4ejt95fle1e7ijqe_izo2fa1vjyykftz-0mjhwq7dkc2bb6t5mumkeynykowaw8tz9pol389_gyj7wl.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>People also hid in the so-called Anderson shelters, basements, underground stations and factories. Lessons were held even in chapels and pubs, but still, most children didn&#8217;t go to school at all. It wasn\u2019t education in the modern sense, but teachers tried to give at least minimal knowledge. More than 2,000 school buildings were taken for the needs of the military and air raids damaged every fifth school. There was a dire shortage of teachers as male ones were drafted into the armed forces. It led to an increase in class sizes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>7,736 children were killed during the eight-month attack. Every sixth of 43,500 killed civilians was a child. Another 7,622 children were seriously injured.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Changes_in_schoolchildrens_lives\"><\/span>Changes in schoolchildren\u2019s lives<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>After the use of poison gas in World War I, London feared that the Germans would use toxic substances against people, including children. The city issued 38 million gas masks, one for every adult, child and even baby. Children were taught how to use military equipment. Much of the training was done in schools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The wars had a profound impact on children\u2019s education. By the end of the armed attacks, children\u2019s literacy and numeracy skills hadn\u2019t reached the required standards. However, during the difficult war years, the system adapted and teachers tried to create some semblance of normal life for children.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>London&#8217;s history was not only about development and improvement. The city&#8217;s past saw many tragic and difficult events, as it also experienced wars. Children&#8217;s education continued even in difficult wartime conditions. Learn more at london-yes. These were times not only of the struggle for freedom but also of meeting a new reality for all Londoners, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":290,"featured_media":3760,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[498],"tags":[1863,1867,1857,1869,1862,1860,1856,1861,1859,1865,1858,1868,1864,1866],"moimportance":[101,104],"motype":[491],"moformat":[89],"class_list":{"0":"post-3758","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-voenna-istoria","8":"tag-childrens-education-during-wars","9":"tag-disrupted-education-wwii","10":"tag-education-in-air-raid-shelters","11":"tag-evacuated-children-schooling","12":"tag-evacuated-schoolchildren-uk","13":"tag-london-childrens-wartime-experiences","14":"tag-london-schools-in-wartime","15":"tag-london-wartime-schools","16":"tag-schools-during-blitz-london","17":"tag-teaching-under-bomb-threats","18":"tag-wartime-classroom-conditions","19":"tag-wartime-curriculum-adaptations","20":"tag-wwii-education-challenges","21":"tag-wwii-education-in-london","22":"moimportance-golovna-novyna","23":"moimportance-retranslyacziya-v-agregatory","24":"motype-eternal","25":"moformat-vlasna"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/london-yes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3758","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/london-yes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/london-yes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/london-yes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/290"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/london-yes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3758"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/london-yes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3758\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3759,"href":"https:\/\/london-yes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3758\/revisions\/3759"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/london-yes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3760"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/london-yes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3758"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/london-yes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3758"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/london-yes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3758"},{"taxonomy":"moimportance","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/london-yes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/moimportance?post=3758"},{"taxonomy":"motype","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/london-yes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/motype?post=3758"},{"taxonomy":"moformat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/london-yes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/moformat?post=3758"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}