Darowen School 5
Always talking Welsh !
The extract shown here from the School Log Books of Darowen School reveals one of the problems faced by the new head teacher who took over in 1870.
Log Books
The above entry, recorded on 16th August, 1870, reads:
"The late master always talked Welsh with the children
which makes it very hard to get an English word out of their
mouths".
A later entry from 1917 noted that "Reading, with
the exception of one or two, is very good and intelligently rendered,
when it is considered that the children seldom hear any English
except in school".
A rather patronising comment with more than a hint of anti-Welsh
sentiment is to be found in the entry below, from an Inspector's
Report of 1884.
County Archives
M/E/PS/18/L1
This extract, from 4th July, 1884, reads:
"The Arithmetic is excellent, and after making some allowance
for the Welsh character of the children, I think the Reading
and Spelling are successfully taught, but the handwriting needs
a good deal of improvement."
There are 14 pages on Darowen School. Use the box links below to view the other pages.
