Drawing
by
Rob Davies
Rob Davies
The older boys were needed for hay-making every year, for there were no machines to do the work in Victorian times. This is from the diary of Buttington School in the summer of 1878...
| Only the little ones in school this week... |
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Drawing
by
Rob Davies |
Almost all
school Log Book entries said how bad (usually)
or good (hardly ever !) the attendance
was for the day or week. Children were often away to help out on the farm,
to visit local fairs and markets, or because of sickness. The older boys were needed for hay-making every year, for there were no machines to do the work in Victorian times. This is from the diary of Buttington School in the summer of 1878... |
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9th
July
1878 |
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"Many children away this week in consequence of the hay-making going on in the fields, and only the little ones in school this week". |
| Because so many children
went haymaking, the summer holidays were called the 'Harvest
Holidays' for many years. If you think school holidays are not long enough, how about going back on the day after Christmas ? They were supposed to at Buttington School in 1882, but not many did ! ... |
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26th
December
1882 |
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"Yesterday being Christmas Day there was no school at all. Commenced this morning at 9 o'clock. Very few children came". |
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There were many different
reasons for absence mentioned in the official school records as well as
the regular seasonal jobs like sheep
shearing, potato lifting, and whimberry gathering. Where have they gone today ? ...
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RDR
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