School: Killavilla

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1. Hedge Schools of Long Ago (continued)

   

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   rich and most of them could not afford to give him money. They gave him as good food as they could manage. Sometimes his dinner consisted of milk, potatoes, butter, and a little vegetable. They gave him food and lodging, too. The subjects taught were - Reading, Arithmetic, History and Catechism, through English. A little Irish was taught and on some days none at all. History was one of the most important subjects. Books were not used by master and pupil but the master had some books from which he taught the pupils. Writing was done on a slate with whitening or lime sticks. There was no blackboard but the master wrote on the wall with burned cinders or the burnt end of a stick. Desks were not used those times. Big stones and blocks of wood were used as seats and they were placed at a gap as a kind of fence when the children were going home in the evening so that no one would think that they were used as seats. Some of the farmers made little stools for their children but they had to carry them home with them. The children did not go away in groups so that if anyone med them they would not know where they had been. This plan warded off suspicions. A farmer near by usually gave a chair and a very small table which the master used.
   In those days people felt hungry for education

   (continues on next page)

   

   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

   History Edit

   Topics

   1. objects
      1. man-made structures
         1. buildings
            1. schools (~4,094)

   Language

   English

   Collector

   Margaret Molloy

   Gender

   Female

   Address

   Roscrea, Co. Tipperary

   Informant

   Thomas Molloy

   Relation

   Parent

   Gender

   Male

   Address

   Roscrea, Co. Tipperary