| Warter...living in an estate village |
SchoolUnit 4: The Village School
Most of the lessons were very formal with the whole class being taught together. A great deal of time was spent in preparing for the annual visit of Her Majesty's Inspector of Schools. Much had to be learnt by heart and then sung or recited in front of the inspector, who would question the pupils. In 1894 Mr Cookson
recorded that amongst the songs prepared for the inspector's visit were: Merry Christmas Bells, Hearts of Oak and Whistling Farmer Boy by the older scholars and Babyland, Marching Song and Sing a Song of Sixpence by the infants. The older pupils learnt for recitation 'Edinburgh after Flodden', 'The
Shipbuilders', 'The Beggar Man', and 'The Fox and the Grapes' and the infants prepared 'Family Cares', 'The Lost Kitten', 'Falling Snow' and 'No Wings'.
Object lessons were given to the infants on The Clock, The Horse, The Sheep, Harvest, The Cow, Bread, Boots and Shoes, Birds' Nests, Good Manners, The Seal, The Cat, The Pig, The Goat, Poultry, Form and Colour, Setting a Tea Table, Cleanliness. The Object Lessons were often illustrated by posters and there was some attempt to relate them to topics familiar to the country children.
Activity 4
Re-enact the visit of Her Majesty's Inspector. Select a poem or a piece from a favourite book and learn it by heart so that you can recite it to the whole class. Think up questions that might be asked by the inspector about birds' nests, the cow, good manners and cleanliness. What answers would you give?
