While today’s educational debates often focus on technology integration and standardised testing, a peek back through history reveals some fascinatingly peculiar subjects that once featured prominently in school curricula. These forgotten academic disciplines tell us a lot about the different values of our ancestors. Let’s explore some quirky school subjects no longer taught in schools today!

The art of beautiful handwriting

Before the digital age, penmanship wasn’t just a skill—it was a dedicated academic subject. Students would spend hours practicing elaborate cursive techniques, with specialised instructors judging their work on artistic qualities like ‘gracefulness’ and ‘harmony’. Some 19th-century schools even held penmanship competitions where students’ handwriting samples were displayed like fine art—quite different from today’s world where we barely write anything by hand!

How to be a good housewife

Young women in the 19th and early 20th centuries took comprehensive ‘Housewifery’ courses that included everything from advanced sewing techniques to the science of removing stubborn stains. This was considered essential preparation for what society deemed women’s primary career path. Some prestigious schools even had dedicated ‘practice houses’ where students would live for weeks while demonstrating their domestic prowess.

Elocution and proper speaking

Long before today’s brief class presentations, students devoted significant time to the formal study of speaking beautifully. Elocution classes taught precise vocal techniques, breathing methods, and even the correct positioning of one’s body when addressing audiences. Public recitation days were major community events, with students performing elaborately memorised pieces for audiences who appreciated the technical aspects of delivery as much as the content itself.

While these subjects might seem quirky today, they remind us that education has always evolved to reflect societal values and practical needs. It makes you wonder which of today’s essential subjects might seem just as unusual to future generations!

Written by Stephanie Clark