What An Education!

A Memory of Cannock.

It's pity that there are no images of Cannock's schools on this archive. Cannock actually had a number of schools long before many other towns. Primary education for all didn't come into effect until the Education Act of 1870 made it compulsory. I'd like to mention one school.

This is the John Wood C of E School which was established by a gentleman from London. (A memorial plaque in St.Luke's church bears this man's name and details) The school began sometime in the late 17th. century by all accounts though the school log-books, now held at Stafford, only go back to 1864. By the date of this photo, the school was located in the Backcrfofts off Wolverhampton Road but there still remained an ancient building once used by the school. It stood back from the road in High Green by Withington's shop and printing works. [You can gauge its position by locating the light coloured end of a building in the middle of the image].

My mother went to the girls' school in that building in the early 1920's when she was four or five years old. She often recounted in later years the tale of her teacher - always a 'Miss' as married women had to resign upon their marriage in that era. (That title strangely remains to this day for any female teacher no matter what their marital status may be).

This woman was a disciplinarian and she would punish any of her girls who transgressed by laying them face down across her knees whilst she herself sat on her high chair at the front of the class. Punishment had to be seen to be done. Apparently she would pull up the child's skirt, pull down her knickers and slap the bare buttocks with her mighty palm.

Obviously this was acceptable in the 20's and this continued until one fateful day. One terrified child was prepared for the slaps to be inflicted. At the moment the teacher's palm hit the flesh, the child had a bowel movement!

There was uproar by all accounts from the teacher, the child and all her classmates alike. Apparently this woman's regime to keep discipline changed thereafter! It did so amuse my mother who chortled every time she recalled it all.