A new law in 1880 said all children had to go to school and in 1891 they became free for everyone aged five to twelve.

There could be as many as 70 or 80 pupils in a class, especially in cities.

Teachers were very strict. Children had to behave well all the time. Naughty children were punished by being:

• beaten with a cane;
• beaten with a birch made of thin twigs;
• made to stand on a stool wearing a dunce's hat.