A Cotswold Village School from Victorian Times

Description

Published by the The Rissingtons Local History Society

By Michael Boyes

No chronicle of country life would be complete without reference to the village school. Indeed it is often said, and with a great deal of truth, that the closure of a village strikes a serious blow at the entire community.

Our rural literature contains many memorable examples of recollections of a village school life. Flora Thompson and Laurie Lee are but two examples from a list of fine writers whose memories of these little schools have enriched the genre.

There have also been histories of specific village schools over the years, of varying quality, and the potential reader is entitled to ask what, apart from the excellent range of photographs immediately apparent. makes Michael Boyes’ book different from the rest.

The answer is that this book is the result of extensive research, not only concerning one particular Cotswold village school but also of rural education in general. It traces the evolution of the chosen school in the context of the changing social order and in so doing enables the reader to appreciate the day-to-day life of both teacher and taught over a century and a half of educational progress.