| Warter...living in an estate village |
SchoolUnit 4: The Village School
The school day began at 9 a.m., with a religious assembly, sometimes taken by the vicar. On 23 February 1894 Mr Cookson recorded in the log book:
This morning, the children, (instead of going to Church, as had originally been intended) stayed at School, and were addressed by the Rev. W. Winning on 'Our duties and obligations during Lent', from 9.5 to 9.35. The attendance has fallen off somewhat today.
The log book records regular lessons in the three 'Rs' - reading, writing and arithmetic with the master noting on one occasion that:
Very many of the scholars in Standards II and II spell so very badly, that I have given them special Blackboard lessons today.
The use of the blackboard, probably a recent addition to the school equipment, is often mentioned. The children wrote on slates, although in October 1893 the master commented: Routine as usual, but instead of Slates, the children had paper.
Activity 2. Obtain slates and practice writing on them. List the equipment now used by pupils and teachers in your school.
Once a week the older girls went into the infant room for sewing and knitting with Mrs Cookson, whilst the boys received lessons in drawing. Advantage was taken of the girls' sewing lessons by Mrs Wilson. In April 1895 the master 'Received from the Priory (by Mrs Wilson's orders) a parcel of material (sheets &c) for the girls to hem'.
Activity 3. How many children in your class can sew (boys and girls)? Give reasons for and against sewing lessons.
