Ancient history

Did children have to go school in the early 1900s?

Yes, children had to go to school in the early 1900s in most developed countries. Here's an overview of the state of compulsory education in the early 20th century:

United States:

- In the early 1900s, the United States did not have a federal law mandating compulsory education. Instead, each state had its own laws regarding school attendance.

- By 1918, all 50 states had compulsory education laws in place, requiring children to attend school until a certain age or grade level. The minimum age for school attendance varied from state to state, but it was typically around 8 or 9 years old.

- The maximum age for compulsory school attendance also varied, but it was typically around 14 or 16 years old.

United Kingdom:

- The Elementary Education Act of 1880 made education compulsory for children between the ages of 5 and 13 in England and Wales.

- The school leaving age was raised to 14 in 1918.

Canada:

- In the early 1900s, each province in Canada had its own compulsory education laws.

- By the 1930s, all provinces had laws requiring children to attend school until at least the age of 14.

Germany:

- The Prussian Elementary Education Act of 1872 made education compulsory for children between the ages of 6 and 14 in Prussia.

- This law was later adopted by other German states.

Japan:

- The Elementary Education Act of 1872 made education compulsory for children between the ages of 6 and 14 in Japan.

- The school leaving age was raised to 16 in 1907.

It's important to note that these are just a few examples, and there was variation in the specific laws and regulations regarding compulsory education in different countries and regions during the early 1900s.