Beckley

Beckley School log book extracts: show the sort of work the children were given in 1895. Can you solve them?!

08.03.1895: Examination - Second Class - (Standard III) - I examined this Class today.

Reading - as a rule the children attempt to read faster than they should do. Many of them blunder over short words. On the other hand others read well.

Writing - the Handwriting is neater and cleaner than it was.

Spelling - better, but still weak.

Written Exercise Set (unseen dictation) “Watchmen were set to see that this rule was carried out and to leave food on the windowsill for the sufferers inside, and to carry messages to their friends. For when one of the family was struck down by the plague, those who were still well would often leave the house in terror”.

Out of the 28 children examined half had 4 or over 4 errors.

Arithmetic Set- Two plain Sums and two in the form of questions.

What is sixty eight times as great as one thousand and seventy nine? (Sum).

I had in my purse 2 sovereigns, five half Sovereigns, 7 half Crowns, 5 Florins and 5 Sixpences. I paid a bill amounting to £1.19.3 ½d and a second one of £0/7/11d. What had I left? (Problem).