Buckden - a Huntingdonshire Village

EDUCATION IN BUCKDEN 174 It is unfortunate that (as in this case of ‘daylight-saving’) the main evidence about the timetable is where alterations were made to it; nowhere is preserved a record of the teaching schedule of the school. Certainly it was operated rigidly: even such minor changes as transposing reading and writing were noted in the Log Book. Sometimes changes in the curriculum were proposed by the Inspector, as in 1874: ‘The children must be taught at least twelve songs next year, none of which have a denominational character.’ By isolating strengths and weaknesses, the inspectors’ reports add further information about subjects taught: for instance geography and grammar attracted attention in 1877. There was much rote-learning and lists of poetry to be learned for the inspection appear annually in the Log Books. In 1887: Poetry for Exam. 1st Division ‘The Deserted Village’ 2nd Division‘The Burial of Sir John Moore’ 3rd Division ‘The Inchcape Rock’ 4th Division ‘Good Night’ and ‘Good morning’ 1 Slates were used in the Infants, ruled for handwriting practice; copybooks in the Juniors. It would be possible to investigate further the sort of work done by tracing the textbooks used: Nelson’s ‘World’ for Standard VI geography, Nelson’s ‘Star Reader’ for Standard I and Blackie’s ‘Historical Reader’ for Standard III are listed, for example. There are also ‘National’ cards for arithmetic which may have been rather demanding: ‘ March 26th. One child a very industrious girl has been seriously ill from anxiety (arithmetic &c): the exception not the rule.’ (1886) ‘Object lessons’ were also listed in the Log Books and covered such diverse topics as ‘cotton’, ‘salt’ and ‘day and night’. The Girls did needlework (of course). But the teaching did not entirely lack enterprise: in 1900 the Headmaster was prepared to alter the timetable to allow the children to watch an eclipse, and there were other diversions. The teaching staff who had to cope with all this varied almost month to month. The boys’ school had a certificated master who managed with the help of monitors in 1871, but a dozen years later when it was a mixed school there were two pupil-teachers to assist him. For long periods the master had no assistance at all and it is no wonder he sometimes reached the end of his patience: April 16th. Had to give the boy a thrashing for obstinacy…. Having the whole of the work to do myself this waste of time cannot be borne. (1895) This same teacher survived, though his temper was notorious, to resign in 1923 after 32 years’ service. The pressure on teachers and pupils were enormous. The school managers’ great influence had already been referred to. In 1889 the Headmaster wrote: February 25th. It is the desire of Managers that the children be so efficiently instructed that they pass Standard IV (the standard for total exemption) before the age of 11. This can only be accomplished by the managers providing a sufficient and efficient teaching staff. The minimum teaching staff required by the Code will not obtain the maximum Grants, nor the above desideratum. It is not surprising that he wrote a month later: March 26th. Rule:- Home lessons based on the instruction at school are given daily and consist of arithmetic, grammar, spelling and memory work, and for Monday morning Scripture and Catechism. Keeping the managers happy was a vital consideration. The other essential was to satisfy Her Majesty’s Inspector, who visited annually and examined the children On his report depended the school’s grant. Curriculum was one of his concerns and in 1877 he reported that ‘the Geography and Grammar were not sufficiently well known to justify a grant under Article 19(c).’ And in 1886: ‘The grant for Geography was barely earned; that for English was lost owing to the weakness of the fourth, fifth and sixth standards in Grammar.’ 1 Lord Houghton’s ‘Good Night and Good Morning’ was a favourite for infant schools recitations. Some older readers may remember it. It begins: and ends: A fair little girl sat under a tree, And while on her pillow she softly lay, Sewing as long as her eyes could see; She knew nothing more till again it was day; Then smoothed her work, and folded it right, And all things said to the beautiful sun, And said, Dear work, good night! good night! Good morning! good morning! our work is begun!