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Homework at (Upper) Selwyn School in 1879
Description
TitleHomework at (Upper) Selwyn School in 1879
DescriptionThe Dunsandel Historic Society has Marie Lochhead’s homework book from June 1879 which makes for interesting reading.
While Robert, James, William, & Mary Lochhead were first-day pupils at Selwyn School & Thomas started a year later, there is no record of a Marie unless she is actually Mary. It is also possible that Marie is from another Lochhead family. Pupil records between 1879 and 1881 are missing, and while she was definitely a Selwyn School pupil, some mystery surrounds the girl with such a neat homework book.
Geography in 1879 was all about rivers, counties, towns, countries and capital cities.
History was mostly about English monarchs but certainly British history.
While English was about grammar and composition, as was apparently common at the time, there was little emphasis on full stops and capitals to start sentences.
There was little emphasis on arithmetic, at least for homework.
Letter Writing
Dunsandel Augst 11th, 1879
My dear Cecily
I am just going to tell you about what I did yesterday first, I got up and lit the fire & then I got the breakfast ready & then I cleaned the pan for the milk & then I went & helped to milk them I fed the pigs then I got ready for Sunday school when I got about half way I met Elizabeth Beck so we came back to school together when Sunday school was over we changed our libraries then went home & got my dinner then I was going for a walk but it commenced to rain so I could not go so I sat down & read a library book through then we got the cows done again then I got the tea ready but we did not go to church because it was rather dull & cold so I sat down & read another book about ten oclock I went to bed & slept till six oclock this morning No more at present but
I remain
Your loving friend
Marie Lochhead
History
Henry VIII succeeded Henry VII he reigned 38 years from 1507 to 1547 he was the son of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York. He was 18 years old when he came to the throne. This first wife was Catherine of Aragon. He soon wasted his father’s wealth on foolish expenses. He engaged in the battle of Spurs. While he was away James IV invaded England & the battle of Flodden Field was fought but he was defeated & slain. Henry’s adviser in the early part of his reign was Thomas Wolsey when Wolseley was a boy he was very fond of books he rose to be B.A. of Oxford. When he was Cardinal he dressed in the most costly robes but in trying to serve two masters he lost the favour of both. The effects of the King’s anger he arrested Wolsey for high treason but he was never tried before he died on the way at Leicester Abbey. His dying words were “Had I served my God as diligently as I have served the King he would not have given me over in my grey hairs. In the meantime ……………………….
Grammar
that Demonstrative Adjective Pronoun
time Abstract Noun
was Past Tense of the to be
hoisted Passive Participle of the verb to hoist
got Passive Verb Past Tense Indic Mood
Geography
Counties of Wales with capitals
Glamorgan Cardiff
Caermarthen Caermarthen
Pembroke Pembroke
Denbigh Ruthin
Flint Mold
Etc
Mike Noonan,
Dunsandel Historic Society
Date18 February 2021SourceThe Ellesmere EchoLocationUpper Selwyn
DescriptionThe Dunsandel Historic Society has Marie Lochhead’s homework book from June 1879 which makes for interesting reading. While Robert, James, William, & Mary Lochhead were first-day pupils at Selwyn School & Thomas started a year later, there is no record of a Marie unless she is actually Mary. It is also possible that Marie is from another Lochhead family. Pupil records between 1879 and 1881 are missing, and while she was definitely a Selwyn School pupil, some mystery surrounds the girl with such a neat homework book.
Geography in 1879 was all about rivers, counties, towns, countries and capital cities.
History was mostly about English monarchs but certainly British history.
While English was about grammar and composition, as was apparently common at the time, there was little emphasis on full stops and capitals to start sentences.
There was little emphasis on arithmetic, at least for homework.
Letter Writing
Dunsandel Augst 11th, 1879
My dear Cecily
I am just going to tell you about what I did yesterday first, I got up and lit the fire & then I got the breakfast ready & then I cleaned the pan for the milk & then I went & helped to milk them I fed the pigs then I got ready for Sunday school when I got about half way I met Elizabeth Beck so we came back to school together when Sunday school was over we changed our libraries then went home & got my dinner then I was going for a walk but it commenced to rain so I could not go so I sat down & read a library book through then we got the cows done again then I got the tea ready but we did not go to church because it was rather dull & cold so I sat down & read another book about ten oclock I went to bed & slept till six oclock this morning No more at present but
I remain
Your loving friend
Marie Lochhead
History
Henry VIII succeeded Henry VII he reigned 38 years from 1507 to 1547 he was the son of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York. He was 18 years old when he came to the throne. This first wife was Catherine of Aragon. He soon wasted his father’s wealth on foolish expenses. He engaged in the battle of Spurs. While he was away James IV invaded England & the battle of Flodden Field was fought but he was defeated & slain. Henry’s adviser in the early part of his reign was Thomas Wolsey when Wolseley was a boy he was very fond of books he rose to be B.A. of Oxford. When he was Cardinal he dressed in the most costly robes but in trying to serve two masters he lost the favour of both. The effects of the King’s anger he arrested Wolsey for high treason but he was never tried before he died on the way at Leicester Abbey. His dying words were “Had I served my God as diligently as I have served the King he would not have given me over in my grey hairs. In the meantime ……………………….
Grammar
that Demonstrative Adjective Pronoun
time Abstract Noun
was Past Tense of the to be
hoisted Passive Participle of the verb to hoist
got Passive Verb Past Tense Indic Mood
Geography
Counties of Wales with capitals
Glamorgan Cardiff
Caermarthen Caermarthen
Pembroke Pembroke
Denbigh Ruthin
Flint Mold
Etc
Mike Noonan,
Dunsandel Historic Society
Date18 February 2021SourceThe Ellesmere EchoLocationUpper SelwynConnections
CollectionHistory of the (Upper) Selwyn SchoolPlaceGreat South RoadUpper SelwynOrganisationDunsandel Historic SocietyEvent150th Anniversary opening of (Upper) Selwyn School
PlaceGreat South RoadUpper SelwynOrganisationDunsandel Historic SocietyEvent150th Anniversary opening of (Upper) Selwyn SchoolAttribution
Researched ByMike NoonanWritten ByMike Noonan
Written ByMike NoonanClick on the image to add
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Homework at (Upper) Selwyn School in 1879 (18 February 2021). Selwyn Stories, accessed 26/07/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/5246