The School Teacher Speaks Out
In an earlier post we learnt through a report in the Exeter and Plymouth Gazette of 1876 how the school inspector upset the people of North Devon with his ideas for improvement to local education (click on the link here to read how he sought advice from an Exmoor’s Scottish shepherd’s wife). It is often the written word that gives voice to the past and the records of the Barbrook Mill School Log* give yet another valuable insight into the education of the children of Exmoor: the voice of the school teacher.
The log shows all too clearly the day to day realities facing families and the school age children living in the Hoar Oak Valley as well as the responsibilities and frustrations felt by their teachers. The claims on the children for potato planting and harvesting, lambing and shearing are made clear. The impact of bad weather and ill health also takes its toll on the young ‘scholars’ attendance in class.
The task facing the teacher is unenviable yet these abstracts (transcribed from a selection of entries in the Barbrook Mill School Log for 1872 up to October 1881) show true determination, dedication and willingness to do the very best for these children, many of whom had long journeys to school and often after being up early to do chores at home.
1872
January 8th to 12th Opened school on Monday with 19 scholars.
January 15th to 19th Kept school only on Monday and Tuesday in consequence of illness. Received six new scholars.
February 12th to 16th Find the school to be getting into a better working frame, things appear to go on smoother than at first, but home lessons not being so well attended to as they should be. Took means to remedy the evil.. Gave notice of my intention to hold a sort of Test examination monthly, the day being the last Tuesday in the month.
March 11th to 15th Some of the children are making fair progress in reading but others seem to have [got] into a slovenly habit from which it appears difficult to free them. Geog and Grammar to Higher Standards. Reading Writing and Arithmetic to all. Attendance rather thin.
March 18th to 22nd The attendance this week has not improved. Some of the children who ought to be most regular in their attendance are kept at home to plant potatoes and other such like things.
May 13th to 17th Received two new scholars and several who for some weeks have been absent have found their way back again. Find it takes a little time for such ones to get into working trim.
October 21st to November 1st Highest weekly average yet made. Several lessons to all. Marked improvement in arithmetic. Received two new scholars. Progress fair on the whole but the ill effect of the prolonged absence of many are felt.
November 11th to 15th Weather very dry. Children consequently kept at home to dig potatoes. Fair progress is being made in the work of the Standards throughout. Sewing on Thursday afternoon instead of Wednesday. Taught the children to sing “O come come away”
December 2nd to 6th The classes have been chiefly at silent work this week in consequence of the teacher suffering from an attack of the quinsy.
December 9th to 13th Very cold and wet week in consequence of which several of the children have come late in the mornings. The usual lessons have been given throughout the school. Made enquiries for C. Ralph and find that he had gone back to Lynton National School in order to be a participator in the Xmas treat there given.
Christmas hols and breaks
1874
February 3rd to 7th Low attendance this week in consequence of the snow storm of Sunday.
February 17th to 21st Attendance not so good as last week. Find on enquiry that several of the children are ill.
February 24th to 28th Very low attendance this week in consequence of the snow storm of Monday.
March 9th to 13th Small attendance this week because of the severity of the weather and the lambing season.
March 23rd to 27th Attendance rather thin chiefly in consequence of the children being kept at home to assist in planting potatoes. The general work of the school continues to make fair progress when the children attend regularly.
March 31st to April 4th The work of the school progress favourably. Arithmetic of Standard II has considerably improved. Called on the parents of some few of the elder boys who have not made quite the requisite number of attendances to qualify them for examination to ask that they might make the attendances necessary and was promised that they should be sent.
April 7th to 11th Attendance very thin this week a few of the scholars being sick and others at home planting potatoes and doing other farm work.
May 2nd to 6th Fair progress throughout. Usual school routine.
May 8th to 12th Attendance rather thin. Several of the children at home weeding corn etc., usual lessons to those present.
June 9th to 13th Find it requires pretty much tact and energy to get some of the children into working trim and to [get] them well at it.
June 15th to 19th Attendance still thin. Sheep shearing being the chief cause of absence.
June 16th to 20th Very small attendance this week in consequence of sheep shearing etc. Those present seem to do very fairly on the whole. Dictation seems to be satisfactorily done throughout the school.
June 26th Dismissed for summer holidays.
Summary of Inspectors Report 1874
This school has passed a successful examination. The Arithmetic of the first class is very creditable. The first standard work is not so good as that of the other. Singing is very fair.
July 13th Reopened school after holidays.
August 24th to 28th Attendance still low in consequence of harvest operations. Closed school evening in consequence of wife’s fathers illness. (Master Mr. Veale)
Change of handwriting from this point onwards
September 7th to 11th Took charge of the school in consequence of former master (who had left on account of his wife’s father’s illness) being unable to return. Found the school in good working order but arithmetic of first and second standards requiring attention (J.W. Neill)
November 2nd to 6th Attendance better this week. The bigger boys having returned from potato digging.
November 30th to December 4th Usual course of lessons. Find it a hard matter to get the children to give the attention they ought to writing.
1875
February 22nd to 26th Very thin school owing to snow storms and the severe weather.
March 1st to 5th School is still rather thin owing to severe cold. The “home lessons” are done very well on the whole.
March 22nd to 26th A rather thin attendance this week in consequence of the children being kept at home to assist in planting potatoes. Usual work throughout the school.
March 29th to April 2nd A small 1st class this week, most of the boys are at home planting potatoes etc. Several have left to go to work for food.
April 19th to 23rd Usual course of lessons, throughout the school. Some of the scholars read with great[er] ease and fluency than they did a short time back. The arithmetic and writing on the average are carefully done.
April 26th to 30th Better attendance this week, admitted 3 new scholars. Notice of the date fixed for Inspection was received on Tuesday. The children throughout the school seem to make fair progress. Holiday on Friday afternoon in order that the school might be cleaned.
June 7th to 11th Small attendance this week owing to the wet weather and sickness, several children being absent with the whooping cough. Received Inspectors report.
June 14th to 18th The attendance is still small, sheep shearing has commenced which keeps many from attending. Sickness also is keeping several at home.
June 21st to 25th A very thin school. Sheep shearing has been going on all week.
June 28th to July 1st Better attendance this week. Sickness still keeps some away. Dismissed for summer holidays.
Note: transcribing 1876 to 1880 still to be completed
1881
January 24th to 28th 1881 Owing to the consequence of the snow and rough weather school has been extremely thin this week.
February 7th to 11th In consequence of the heavy rain and wind on Monday only 24 children reached school (Average is 40)
March 14th to 18th The attendance this week has been rather small many are at home on account of it being the lambing season.
April 4th to 8th Visited on Monday morning by the school attendance officer. Attendance this week small – average 38.6
August 8th to 12th On Friday the attendance was very small owing to the heavy and incessant rain. Only 23 children present in the morning and 24 in the afternoon.
August 15th to 19th Held test examination on Friday morning.
August 29th to September 2nd Several children absent this week owing to harvest operations having commenced. Many who have nearly – but not quite – completed their attendances for examination are still away while others who have completed their attendances come very irregularly.
October 10th to 14th Barbrook School was inspected on Tuesday October 11th by H.F. Codd Esq. Three songs were sung by the children viz: 1 The graves of a household 2. Rejoice Rejoice and 3 Dear mother said a little fish.
The titles of these songs are intriguing. The first sounds terribly sad, the second rather like a hymn and the third appears to be ungrammatical. All will be revealed in the next blog!
*held in the North Devon Records office in Barnstaple
