Year 2 Victorian Morning
Last week something rather strange happened in Year 2, one minute the classes were learning as usual about Victorian schools and the next minute the children found themselves dressed as Victorians, sat in rows with slates and chalk and two rather stern teachers called Miss Brodie and Miss Throttle!
First, Miss Brodie made the children repeat some phrases popular in Victorian times such as ‘Children should be seen and not heard’ and both teachers insisted on this or they got their wooden canes out! Next everyone had to try and write on their slates practising their Victorian capital letters – this was not at all easy because chalk is hard to write with and the letters were very curly!
Miss Throttle was very cross with lots of children who didn’t work fast enough and several children had to go and stand in the corner with the Dunce’s hat on – how shameful! After lots of repetition of the school rules, it was time for the third of the 3 R’s – Arithmetic. Everyone had to repeat the two times table in unison – again several children felt the sharp end of Miss Throttle’s cane. Hands had to be inspected back and front since ‘Cleanliness is next to Godliness!’
Finally it was time for Drill and everyone stood in rows and performed their exercises – the girls made sure their curtseys were up to scratch, while the boys made sure they bowed from the waist…
Here is what some of the children had to say about their experience:
Iris: ‘It was so hard to write with the chalk!’
Amélie: ‘The letters were very hard to write.’
Victoria: ‘The children could speak only if they were spoken to.’
Leila: ‘The teachers were very strict! I prefer my teachers!’
