| Description | In 1906, the Midlands Adult School Union decided to affiliate Women's Schools and at its annual meeting established the Women's Committee as a standing committee to deal with work relating to the Women's Schools. At that time in the Midlands in relation to other parts of the country, there were proportionally fewer Women's Schools than Men's Schools, and it was hoped that in locations where there was already a Men's School, the Committee would be able to encourage a Women's School to be established.
To this end, it selected speakers to visit the Men's Schools to explain the need for Women's Schools. The Committee highlighted the important role of women in the home and their influence on the lives of future generations. It argued that there was a need for educational opportunities for mothers so that they had better knowledge in order to be able to prevent child mortality which was on the increase at the time. It also warned of the dangers of drink and gambling, and the benefits of Bible Study. Over time it was hoped that with an increase in Women's Schools across the Midlands, it would be easier to extend the movement to reach the many uneducated women who had no connection to a religious organisation.
The Women's Committee went on to support the work of Women's Adult Schools across the Midlands until c. 1993 by which time recruitment of members was becoming increasingly difficult due to age and infirmity. |