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Victorian
Schooldays at Guildford Museum
Imagine
a classroom full of children silently concentrating to practise
their copperplate writing in neat copybooks. A classroom, where
the teacher is addressed as Ma'am, and children only speak when
spoken to. Fact or fiction? Believe it or not, this classroom
does exist.
Every
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday in term-time, the clock is turned
back to the year of 1893, and Salters Gallery in Castle Street
becomes the location of Miss Sarah Smith's Victorian School. Ably
assisted by Emily, her maid, Miss Smith welcomes Key Stage 2 school
groups to experience for a day what it may have been like to be
Victorian schoolchildren. As the children and their teachers,
costumed and in role, walk through the schoolroom door, the atmosphere
changes. Sitting in rows at their wooden desks, writing on slates
and learning by rote, together the children travel back in time.
Since
opening in October 2001, the Victorian Schoolroom has welcomed
over 800 children from 27 school groups. Children, aged between
six and eleven years, have experienced the discipline, work and
play of their Victorian counterparts. A typical day begins with
the school prayer, hymn, register and hand inspection and concludes
with the presentation of certificates and a school photograph.
The timetable would include religious instruction, reading aloud,
recitation, chanting tables, mental arithmetic, physical drill
and object lessons. The girls practise their needlework with Emily,
whilst the boys are instructed in technical drawing. During the
lunch break, the children play outside with hoops, hobby horses,
skittles and skipping ropes, and the afternoon includes a short
time to play with indoor toys, such as bagatelle, marble alleys
and spinning tops. However, perhaps surprisingly, the highlight
of the day for the majority of children is their lesson in copperplate
writing, using copybooks, dip pens and ink. Here are a few comments
from letters received by Miss Smith from her "Victorian" scholars:
"I really enjoyed yesterday, and thought we HAD gone back in
time… everything was so realistic." (Isabel)
"When
the inspector comes, I hope he will be happy with my copybook
because I did my best handwriting." (William)
Guildford
Museum's Victorian School day runs from 10am - 2pm, every Tuesday,
Wednesday and Thursday, and we are currently taking bookings for
Autumn Term 2003 and Spring Term 2004.
For
further information and booking forms, please contact Carol Herzig
or Elaine Sibley on (01483) 444750. Teacher's packs provided.
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