This is a photograph of a chemistry laboratory at Manchester High School for Girls in 1899.
What to look at in the photograph
The room was divided by long benches. Chemistry equipment was kept in the drawers and cupboards under the benches. Bottles of chemicals were placed on small shelves above the benches. Inside the small cupboard on the bench was a pair of scales for measuring chemicals. There were three Bunsen burners on the bench. They provided a gas - fired flame for heating chemicals. You can see the tubes for the gas. There were two sinks for washing equipment. High stools were used because the benches were too high to reach from ordinary chairs. There was a blackboard on the wall.
Opposition to science for girls in Victorian times
Many people in Victorian times thought that girls should not have science lessons. They thought that science was too hard for girls to learn, that science lessons would be of no use to girls because they would marry and have children soon after they left school. It was also thought that letting girls have science lessons would encourage them to want a career instead of getting married. Girls' schools such as Manchester High School were set up to fight against such prejudices.
Tasks
Imagine that you are Sara Burstall who was the Headmistress of Manchester High School in 1899. Write a letter to a parent explaining why you think that girls should have science lessons. Remember that many people in Victorian times objected to girls having science lessons.
Explain to the parent why you think that it is important for girls to learn science.
Include in your letter a description of the chemistry lab shown in the photograph to explain to the parent the excellent facilities which the school had for science lessons.