The Sancta Maria Institute and the choir school

In the mid-19th century, working-class children were already put to work at a very young age. Nevertheless, the government made attempts to encourage primary education. In Aarschot, there was a charity school that provided free education. However, since there was no requirement for learning or school attendance, most students dropped out after their ninth year. Girls attended the lace school established in 1809 at the then convent of the Sisters of Charity. The convent and lace school had to move several times in those early years until they were permanently housed at this location in 1836.

The lace school would remain in existence until 1896 and would then be transformed into a domestic science and sewing department, the so-called ‘coupe’. Aside from lace-making, the young lace workers learned virtually nothing.

By the end of the 19th century, and especially during the School Struggle, the abuses in the lace schools were brought to light. The lay schools and convents would enrich themselves at the expense of the students’ labor. Moreover, this constituted unfair competition with professional workers, and these schools received additional funding from the state. Although the girls worked as full-fledged workers from a young age, the schools were not subject to the 1889 law that prohibited child labor under the age of twelve. It was only with the new school law of 1914 that this situation changed.

The sisters also held a Sunday school to “protect the youth from the threats of the street and the harmful influence of the family”! The State supported these schools. It is no coincidence that the lessons were taught by ladies and gentlemen from the wealthier bourgeoisie: children were taught to accept their fate so that the prevailing order and authority would be maintained.

Jan Rymenams