Life was not easy for many children during the 19th century. While wealthy families did exist, the average family depended on its children to help provide a living. Children began working at an early age. Their skills were honed to make them useful in many areas, from farm production to manufacturing, and street sales.
During the 19th century working-class children were often employed in factories and on farms. For many families, it was more important for a child to bring home a wage than to get an education.
Poor children often had to work instead of going to school. Many worked with their parents at home or in workshops, making matchboxes or sewing. Children could also earn a bit of money as chimney-sweeps, messengers or crossing sweepers like the boy in this picture.
In 1849 the youngest pupils at Geneva's Classical and Union School started with the alphabet, reading, spelling, and geography. Then they moved on to arithmetic, history, and writing (penmanship). Most children left school by 13, when they began to learn composition, science, higher mathematics, and languages.