Page 13 - link magazine

The Link Magazine • April 2002 13
Catherine Wayte kids turn Victorian for a day
Fear and fascination marked a memorable visit to Sevington Victorian school by year 6 children at Catherine Wayte School on 27 February.
Travelling back in time, from in a big house and that boys needed
the moment the 25 children from to know more arithmatic because
Abbey Meads stepped off the coach they would have proper jobs."
near Chippenham, they were ex- She added that the children were
pected to take on the role of a child amazed by the classroom. "We had
attending school in 1898. to write on slates, and the day be-
And woe betide any who did fore we were being taught on a
not instantly become a Victorian computer whiteboard. There were
child for fierce class teacher Mis- old bits all round the room and
tress Lee had a range of punish- there were Victorian spider webs
ments on hand to teach anyone up in the roof.
how to behave, including a cane "It really brought home what a
that swished menacingly. good school we attend."
"We were really, really scared at Class teacher Celia Messenger
first," said Elise Pearce who had to or Miss Smith said the visit had
become Bessie Thompson. "We been a tremendous experience.
had to sit up straight and call Mis- making their own caps. Once at to light oil lamps, whilst the girls "The children were very scared in
tress Lee'mam' and make sure we school they had to line up in sepa- made observational drawings and the first twenty minutes in the Vic-
stood when we answered a ques- rate entrances and sit on different were shown the household duties torian classroom; it was a total
tion. Her cane looked really fright- sides of the classroom. The four expected of them. shock to be in that environment
ening." hour visit concentrated on the three Gemma Houlsby who was re- and to behave in a completely dif-
The children had been instructed Rs: reading, wRiting and aRith- named Faith Cole was shocked by ferent way. You could hear the
to wear Victorian costumes of jack- matic, and the children were given the different education she would clock ticking over the sound of
ets and trousers for boys, and different tasks appropriate to their have had as a Victorian child. quills scratching on paper.
smocks and a scarf for girls, who sex and station in life. The boys "Mistriss Lee told the girls that we "They have been talking about
had to prepare for the visit by had to polish boots and learn how were learning to become servants the day ever since."

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