One of my relies was a British School Master in Haddenham in mid 19c. In his diary he often writes entries like "Monday - about 40 boys at school today". The attendance seemed to vary quite considerably from just a handful on the worst days to upwards of a 100. Apart from when he mentions bad weather he does not give any reasons for the variation. In one entry he says "This week I have allowed a brother and sister to attend school alternatively for 2 weekly I prefer this to making half weeks" - maybe the family could only afford to send one or spare one from work? If they are paying there is no mention of the cost, though in another entry in 1855 he says that he takes four boys for the school into his house to board. He charges their parents £3 per quarter for lodging, board and instruction if they board 7 days a week and £2 5s when it's Monday to Friday only. Martin On 14 Apr 2009, at 04:52, Margaret Holmes wrote: > Hi Nivard, Thanks for the reply. I do realise that but the family > did seem > to value education as George's sons seem to be reasonably well > educated for > the time. George's grandson, Arthur Herbert did even better and > became an > architect, which as the son of an estate carpenter at Bletchley Park > was > pretty amazing. Sir Herbert and Lady Leon seem to have taken a great > interest in education. I wondered if the Duncombs did too. They did > but to a > limited extent. Margaret > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Nivard Ovington" <ovington1@sky.com> > To: <bucks@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Monday, April 13, 2009 12:16 PM > Subject: Re: [BKM] schools in early 19th century > > >> Hi Margaret >> >> I have often seen it said many people could write their name but >> little if >> nothing else, like today I suspect a lot depended upon the parents >> as to >> how >> or if they learned to read or write and like today what importance >> they >> placed upon their childrens education , who taught you to read and >> write? >> I >> could certainly do both before I went to school as my parents >> taught me >> >> Because someone signed the marriage register (which is the usual >> evidence >> given for literacy) does not necessarily mean they were what we >> would call >> literate , do you have any other evidence ? >> >> Likewise someone's X on the register isn't proof of illiteracy, if >> the >> minister said put your mark there, I suspect some did just that even >> though >> they could sign >> >> I cannot recall his name but recall reading of a well known poet who >> taught >> himself to read while working as a shepherd of ag lab parents >> (perhaps >> someone else knows his name?) >> >> Heres a brief timeline of education in England which may help (or >> not <g>) >> http://www.dg.dial.pipex.com/history/timeline.shtml >> >> If not from the parents I would be looking at Sunday schools as a >> possible >> source of education at the time you are asking about >> >> Best wishes Nivard Ovington, in Cornwall (UK) >> >> >>> I have been reading the book "Henry Mundy - A Young Australian >>> Pioneer" >>> which has set me wondering about schools in or close to Great >>> Brickhill. >>> My husband's great great grandfather John Holmes, a shepherd, was >>> seemingly able to write his name at least. His son George, a groom >>> was >>> similarly literate. John was born in 1799 and George in 1826 so >>> where at >>> that time would they have learned to read and write? Henry Mundy >>> went to >>> a >>> school in Simpson but Leighton Buzzard or Slapton would probably >>> have >>> been >>> nearer to Great Brickhill. Was there a school in those places >>> between >>> 1805 >>> and 1840? The National School in Little Brickhill was opened in >>> 1840 so >>> probably George's children would have gone there. Margaret >> >> *************************************** >> >> BGS Website: http://www.bucksgs.org.uk/ >> BFHS Website: http://www.bucksfhs.org.uk/ >> Bucks Genuki Website: http://met.open.ac.uk/genuki/big/eng/BKM/ >> >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> BUCKS-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the >> quotes >> in the subject and the body of the message > > *************************************** > > BGS Website: http://www.bucksgs.org.uk/ > BFHS Website: http://www.bucksfhs.org.uk/ > Bucks Genuki Website: http://met.open.ac.uk/genuki/big/eng/BKM/ > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to BUCKS-request@rootsweb.com > with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and > the body of the message