We performed The Old School at Blackmans Bay Primary School today. The half-hour re-enactment of a typical class in a 19th century school, topped off some intensive history study units for the school.
We visited the school hall where there was a wonderful display of the students work. Students explored all aspects of history from our original, indigenous peoples through to the early days of white man’s settlement.
Children had written diaries of a typical day, it seemed to contain a lot more work than a modern child; tasks like milking the cow and helping with household cleaning featured for everyone!
Back in The Old School classroom however, Miss Thorne took them through their paces with times-tables and copybook work whilst Mr Oldfield told them of the start of the “recent” expedition of Burke and Wills.
An Old School Classroom of the 19th Century
