Former National School, Linslade (now St. Barnabas Church Hall)
[CR/PH, 2008]
Saturday 20th November 1915: A resolution passed by the Elementary
Education Sub-Committee excluding under fives from public elementary schools with
effect from 31st January 1916 has been the subject of discussion at a meeting
of the Linslade School Managers. From this date no separate class for under
fives will be funded by the Education Committee, and they may only be accepted
at a school if it can be shown that their presence would cause no extra expense
for teaching staff and would not interfere with the efficiency with which older
infants can be taught. In this way it is hoped to release teachers for older
children and alleviate the shortage caused by the loss of men who have
enlisted.
Although one member of the
committee thought the provision was rather drastic and four would be a more
reasonable cut off age, the Chairman thought education did not count for much
before the age of five. Miss Greenway, the headmistress of Linslade Infants’
School stated that the school currently has 34 children aged under five on its
roll; in her opinion early education counted in improving discipline. Other
members argued that where children came from good homes it was better for them
to stay at home until they were five, and another knew instances where a boy
who was sent to school at the age of ten knew just as much as those sent at the
age of four.
Rigid economies have now
been put in place by the Education Authority. In addition to the reduced
allowance for stationery already introduced, no allowance is to be made in
future for prizes, no school furniture is to be purchased except in very
special circumstances, and schools have been instructed to economise in both
fuel and light.
Source:
Leighton Buzzard Observer, 23rd November 1915
No comments:
Post a Comment