Gloucester Folk Museum
Key Aims:
How was Victorian school different to school today?
What was the life like for children in Victorian Gloucester?
Be transported back to the Victorian times in this highly memorable role-play session! Full costume will be provided for all pupils taking part and we usually have one or two pieces we can lend to the adults too to help them get into character to take part. The session also takes place in our Victorian-style classroom with old fashioned desks, slates to write on, a blackboard, an abacus, a harmonium, and other Victorian paraphernalia.
From the moment the Victorian schoolteacher arrives you are at her school, obeying all the rules of Victorian society and the strict discipline standards of school life. The days lessons will start with outside drill (exercises) and a hand and shoe inspections (remember cleanliness is next to Godliness.) Upstairs in the classroom pupils will undertake a typical Victorian registration, followed by lessons of Arithmetic, Reading and writing. You may find yourself chanting improving mottos or timestables, listening to a factual piece on Natural Sciences or History to answer questions on it later, practicing your neatest copperplate handwriting or simply being quizzed on Victorian general knowledge.
Our punishments for incorrect behaviour (slouching, talking in class and being unable to give a correct answer are the main misdemeanours that we find our young time-travellers fall foul of) are authentically Victorian too. You may find yourself stood in the dunce’s corner, wearing finger stocks or back straighteners and taken outside for the cane!
Will you have a class of exemplary Victorian pupils or will they not be passed to the next grade?
Each session finishes with the school teacher back to her friendly Museum self. Pupils will have a chance to ask questions and discuss what has happened in the session.
To help your class get the best out of this session we strongly advise that you discuss with them before their visit what things might be happening in the session. The experience is authentically Victorian – the teacher will shout; misdemeanours are always punished. Please remind them it is only role play and it will definitely end after an hour, but to get the most out of the session they should take it seriously.
Please bring a register (with surnames and first initials or whole first names) for each of the class groups to give to the Victorian schoolteacher. This allows us to call a proper register at the start of each classroom experience. The register can also be used to indicate to the Victorian teacher any pupils with learning difficulties, or are especially sensitive, so they are not put under too much pressure.
Why not make it a Victorian day?
To get the most out of your Victorian themed visit to Gloucester Folk Museum, why not also book a Victorian Domestic or Victorian toys session, or if it’s the right time of the year a Victorian Christmas session. Sometimes it is possible to run these sessions simultaneously to allow you to bring multiple classes for a full Victorian experience. Just to get in touch with us for more details and to make the arrangements.
You can phone us to book or for more details on our Educational Sessions on: +44 (01452) 396868 (Gloucester Folk Museum) and +44 (01452) 396131 (City Museum & Art Gallery) or use our online booking system by clicking here http://www.glrcm.co.uk/Login.aspx|