Here’s a question for you. Can you imagine stepping back in time to experience school days of the past? At the Ecomusée des Écoles Publiques de Lille, that’s precisely what you’ll do.
The Ecomusée des Écoles Publiques de Lille offers a unique peek into the past. It showcases public schools from the late 19th to the mid-20th century. It is a true immersion into the school life of yesteryear.
The Ecomusée is located in a former girls’ school built in 1892. Alfred Mongy oversaw its construction. He ensured the school followed hygienic guidelines. These included a coal cellar, stove heating and high ceilings. Large south-facing windows let in plenty of light. Toilets were in the courtyard. There was even living space for the head teacher. This school was cutting edge back then. Schools were often small, damp, and unhealthy. The school operated until 1963. It then became a special school for children with learning difficulties. In the late 1990s attitudes changed. The school closed and students were integrated into mainstream education.
In 1999, the association “Denier des écoles laïques” took over a small part of the school. A large part now houses the police station. The Denier des écoles laïques aimed to instill citizenship in students. It also defended secular education and supported public schools.
The association created libraries in schools. It organized trips to the seaside for top students. Later, they offered “civic tours” of Lille.
At the Ecomusée des Écoles Publiques de Lille, you can see a reconstructed classroom. It represents the period from 1930 to 1960. Imagine up to 50 children in one class. Teachers were often young and inexperienced. They were only around 18 or 19 years old.
The museum displays old school materials. These include ink pots and blotters. Moral lessons written on the blackboard are also on display. Hear the stove humming in the classroom’s center. See the dunce cap for less well behaved students.
Teachers created cabinets of curiosities. These included bones, stuffed rats and human skulls. Fossils, shells and dried leaves also featured. Children learned by seeing, touching, and handling objects. Boys studied chemistry for careers as workers or farmers. Girls learned to sew. They prepared trousseaus for marriage and motherhood.
From 1880, the “Certificat d’études primaires” marked the end of elementary school. Children, especially boys, took the exam at 13. Classrooms had posters about French history and geography. These were intended to unify the country. Many regions spoke local dialects instead of French. Posters also highlighted campaigns against alcohol and disease. Teachers promoted hygiene and vaccination.
After France lost Alsace-Lorraine in 1870, “Bataillons scolaires” were created. Boys learned to hate Germans and train for war. Patriotic education was everywhere.
During your visit to the Ecomusée des Écoles Publiques de Lille, you can try the “Certificat d’études” dictation. You will use a pen and ink. It is not as easy as it looks. You can also enjoy old-fashioned waffles and juice. It is a real trip back to childhood.
The Ecomusée des Écoles Publiques de Lille is open on the first Saturday of each month. The visit lasts two hours. You can also visit during Heritage Days.
So, step inside. Relive the school days of your grandparents. The Ecomusée des Écoles Publiques de Lille awaits.