Education
By 1901 Literacy had become widespread and education highly regarded as important for keeping society together. People were regulated by written instructions so were expected to be literate. Education was originally conducted by charity or workhouse based schools for many children. 'Public Schools', misnamed private establishments educated few. There were many small village schools run by a 'literate' local person. Sundays schools had originally been the important source of education for the working classes but they could not meet the need for proper literacy. There were sectarian problems in educational developments, but educational Parliament Acts allowed for school developments and state involvement. The 1880 Act allowed for elementary education for 5-10 year olds. The system allowed for children to be educated to accept their place in society. Educational projects became more respectable, whilst mechanics institutes educated working men, museums and Art Galleries fed inspiration to citizens, but failed to reach most working class people.
People read books (sometimes from lending libraries and reading rooms making 'superstars' of some authors), periodicals, magazines, newspapers and comics. Some major literary works of the time were influenced by their original periodical form New types of books developed for train reading. Printing and publishing developed and an educated working class found for the first time that it could communicate with itself, develop new ideas and join new workers groups. New training could take place for the new technical innovations that were coming into being in science and industry.