Category: Education & Schooling

Agricultural History Education & Schooling

Exemption from School Attendance …. to help with the harvest

Elsewhere on the website can be found information about what life was like for children growing up at Hoar Oak Cottage including going – or in many cases not going – to school. Read more on this link: It was clear from the teachers’ log books that many local children living on Exmoor farms often missed out on their schooling due to illness, bad weather and being kept at home to help with agricultural chores like planting potatoes, at shearing time and during harvest. Recently, on a visit to the wonderful Somerset Rural Life Museum in Glastonbury this ‘Ministry of Education Exemption Certificate’ was noted on display. Intriguing to see that in 1946 children were still ‘permitted’ or perhaps we should say ‘expected’ to be exempt from school attendance to help with agricultural duties. Of course, this certificate is from during the WW2 years so that may have had an influence but it would be intriguing to learn if there are any such Exemption Certificates for any of the Hoar Oak children. In the 1940s, the occupants were the Hobbs and then the Littles. Time for a bit of searching!
Posted by Bette Baldwin
Education & Schooling Exmoor Songs & Singing Uncategorized

1881 – A Fishy Tale Sung for Mr Codd!

The Barbrook school registers have given us a valuable insight into the lives of North Devon children including some that lived at Hoar Oak Cottage.  Their education was frequently interrupted by the needs of the farming calendar, by illness or by inclement weather.  These stories can be read on two earlier blogs: The School Teacher Speaks Out and Advice on Education From a Shepherd’s Wife, 1876.

The register also logs the frequent visits from the school inspectors and one entry dated Tuesday October 11th 1881 tells of the inspection made 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.  In an endeavour to try and find out a bit more the Friends contacted Cynthia Sartin, Honorary Librarian at Halsway Manor – the National Centre for the Folk Arts –  in Crowcombe, Somerset which holds a large collection of traditional folk music, songs, dance and folklore in its Kennedy Grant Library.

The Graves of a Household comes from a book of poems by Felicia Hemans (1793-1835) entitled Records of Woman: With Other, published in 1828 by William Blackwood of Edinburgh and London.    Cynthia has found the words of the poem, which had clearly been set to music in order for the little children of Barbrook school to be singing it to Mr. Codd the School Inspector.   They are such sad words but probably reflect the experience of many families whose grown children left home to try their luck in far flung lands and rarely, if ever, returned home to their ‘fond mother’.  The words are as follows:
They grew in beauty, side by side,
They fill’d one home with glee;–
Their graves are sever’d, far and wide,
By mount, and stream, and sea.
.
The same fond mother bent at night
O’er each fair sleeping brow;
She had each folded flower in sight,–
Where are those dreamers now?
.
One, midst the forests of the west,
By a dark stream is laid,–
The Indian knows his place of rest,
Far in the cedar shade.
.
The sea, the blue lone sea, hath one,
He lies where pearls lie deep;
He was the lov’d of all, yet none
O’er his low bed may weep.
.
One sleeps where southern vines are drest
Above the noble slain:
He wrapt his colours round his breast,
On a blood-red field of Spain.
.
And one–o’er her the myrtle showers
Its leaves, by soft winds fann’d;
She faded midst Italian flowers,–
The last of that bright band.
.
And parted thus they rest, who play’d
Beneath the same green tree;
Whose voices mingled as they pray’d
Around one parent knee!
.
They that with smiles lit up the hall,
And cheer’d with song the hearth,–
Alas! for love, if thou wert all,
And nought beyond, oh earth!
.
Click here for the digital link to where information and details of this song can be found.

Cynthia felt that the second song recorded, Rejoice Rejoice,  was very likely to be a hymn and, as there are many hymns which have those words in their title, it could be one of any number of potential hymns.  It is therefore difficult to be sure exactly of the words but we do hope that, for the children, this was a rather jollier song to sing than The Graves of a Household.

Finally, Dear Mother Said A Little Fish is an extraordinary title for a children’s song but, once again, Cynthia found it to be another Victorian poem which had been set to music for children to sing.  The actual title of the poem is The Little Fish That Would Not Do As It Was Bid and this full title gives a clue that it is likely to be another woeful and moralistic tale used to teach a child an important message.  Cynthia found it in Rhymes for the Nursery by Jane Taylor publsihed in 1831.  It can also be found in a new Project Gutenberg EBook of Aunt Kitty’s Stories, by various authors, follow this link.

We are extremely grateful to Paul James, the Chief Executive of Halsway Manor for passing our enquiry to Cynthia Sartin, and to her for her quick response and providing such interesting information.   If you would like to find out about the National Centre for the Folk Arts at Halsway Manor and their wonderful programme of activities click here for more information.

If you would like to find out more about Barbrook Mill School and Inspector Codd’s inspection reports there are many old records held in the North Devon Record Office in Barnstaple.  For example, have a look at Mr. H.F. Codd, H.M.I., Education … North Devon Record Office: Annual reports of Inspector   Reference:  3445A-1/PE 6 1876 – 1899 

 

Posted by Bette Baldwin
Agricultural History Education & Schooling Exmoor HistoryThroughStories Uncategorized

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  

Posted by Bette Baldwin
Education & Schooling Exmoor Shepherd Little The Womens Life Uncategorized

Advice on Education From a Shepherd’s Wife, 1876

Sometimes, when doing archival research, a snippet of information which is a bit fun and seemingly not terribly relevant pops up its head.  Suddenly you spot a word or phrase – in this case “Scotch [sic] shepherd’s wife” – and it becomes worthy of pursuing.  Here is just such a case – enjoy!

 

An article in the Exeter and Plymouth Gazette for Thursday April 20th, 1876 appears primarily to do with North Tawton* School.  It starts as follows:

“The Earl of Portsmouth was the means of conferring a great boon upon Devonshire when he initiated the foundation of the Middle-class School at Northtawton [sic] and he has obliged the country at large by inducing the Liberal ex-Minister of Education to come and speak at its anniversary this year, his lordship thereby proving himself instrumental in giving to the country the very important utterances which Mr. Forster delivered yesterday.”

A chummy, if somewhat dry, start to the article but a paragraph further on begins to get to the issue to hand.  It tells us:

“The speech made by Mr. Forster at Northtawton yesterday will send confusion and dismay, to be quickly followed by deep-seated resentment, into the camp of the Birmingham Leaguers.  Nothing could be clearer or more unmistakable than the right hon. gentleman’s pronouncement in favour of religious education.” 

Clearly, at the heart of this newspaper piece is the issue of non-denominational education and the concern that should ex-Education Minister Forster ever become re-elected Education Minister, a wave of worry will spread through the Secularists.  However, hard on the heels of this journalist concern comes the next paragraph (and the one that interests us)  which states:

“Mr. Forster imported a whole cargo of Scottish educational ideas into Northtawton yesterday.  Doubtless it is to the lessons received by the right hon. gentleman during his visit to “the land o’cakes” last year, supplemented by the impression made upon him by his conversation with the Scottish shepherd’s wife whose cottage he entered during a recent ramble over Exmoor, that we owe the glorification of Scottish education to which Mr. Forster treated his hearers at Northtawton yesterday.  In truth, his speech favoured a great deal too much of Caledonianism.”. 

Oh dear, Mr Forster – they weren’t liking what you were telling them!  And some more rhetoric along a similar line is followed by this critical warning:

“Devonshire people are not going to fall down and worship John Knox and adapt their modes of thought and actions to Scottish fashions, because Mr W. E. Forster happens to have been across the Border, and to have talked with a Scotch (sic) shepherd’s wife on Exmoor.  The right hon. gentleman’s reference, by-the-way, to the latter, did not seem very relevant to the eulogium of the Scottish school system in which it was introduced, seeing it appears that the good woman does not send her children to school at all, but instructs them at home.” 

So who was this ‘good woman’ quietly minding her business in her cottage on Exmoor when the Liberal ex-Minister for Education calls in and asks about how she educates her children!  Whatever did she think about it all? Did she know he was coming or did he literally just stroll by and drop in?  We know from first hand reports what one woman in a lonely cottage out on the moor did when a stranger came by. Perhaps Mr. Forster caught this one unawares?  And which Scottish shepherd’s wife might it have been?

In 1876, it could have been Mrs Tait Little – she arrived on the moor around 1872 to join her husband Robert Tait Little.  They already had 2 children born in Scotland and by the 1881 census had two more so very likely to be home-educating them.  Jane Little (below) looks potential ‘home teacher’ material.

Or maybe it was Mrs Fanny Davidson, wife of Scottish Shepherd William Davidson, out at Hoar Oak. By 1876 when this article was written they already had three children (four more were to follow) and were living at Hoar Oak Cottage. Perhaps Mr Forster had strolled out to see the Hoar Oak Tree on the Devon/Somerset boundary and stumbled across the family at Hoar Oak Cottage?  Unfortunately, we have no photo of Fanny – if any of our readers are connected to the Davidsons and can tell us more we will be delighted to hear from them.

* the ancient town of North Tawton lies some forty miles to the south-west of Hoar Oak Cottage

 

Posted by Bette Baldwin