George Moneybags has the best of everything and his education is no
exception. He attends Eton, one of the most elite public institutions in
England. Here, he will form friendships with other aristocratic young men
who may be useful to him in the future.
If a young upper-class gentleman did go to school, he usually went to
either Eaton or Westminster. The curiculum at these institutions often
included: classical studies, writing, arithmetic, Euclid, Greek history,
Pope, and antiquities. Westminster commenced instruction at six o'clock
in the morning,
whereas Eton began at the later hour of eight o'clock in the morning. They
studied until eight in the evening with plenty of breaks for meals and
recreation.
Although one
could receieve a very comprehensive education at these
institutions, there were problems. For example, bullying was a big problem.
Boys would beat each other up and throw rocks at each
other. In sone extreme cases, boys set fire to one other. The boys did not
just commit violent acts against each other. Wrath was also directed at
school officials in the form of large rebellions. One notable rebellion
happened at Eton after the headmaster attempted to flog a student. "A
hundred and sixty boys threw their school books into the Thames and set
out to march to Maidenhead. There, they consumed fifty-five pounds worth
of
food and drink and finally went back to school again."
9These displinary problems discouraged many parents from sending
their young sons to the elite public schools. However, weather at school
or at home, upper-class boys receieved the best education in eighteenth
century England.
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Garton Orme by J.
Richardson, 1750.