Dame Elizabeth Rata: Episode 8 - English Skills 1877-1899

In the video below Episode 8 is about the skills that pupils need to engage with the quality content described in Episode 7. The main skills were speaking, listening, handwriting, reading and composition writing (that's stories, poems, letters, essays). Letter-writing was particularly important because it was the main form of communication in the 19th century. Telegram writing was taught as a way to develop precision and clarity.

Written work required correct spelling and punctuation. These writing conventions make sure that children pay attention to the selection and arrangement of words. Dictation was a common way to teach spelling. It also developed children's listening ability. Oral language was strongly encouraged. Words were to be pronounced correctly and enunciated clearly.

Handwriting was taken very seriously. There was a focus on the correct posture with the body, arms, and head placed so that the pen was held in the correct position. The psychology of precise hand to mind coordination was behind this emphasis on posture and correct pen-holding.

Reading was initially taught using the simultaneous method. This involved teachers leading the class in reading altogether then calling on individuals to read aloud. By the end of the century it was replaced with what we call 'structured literacy'. This superior method connected symbol, sense and sound to unite the decoding of symbols with comprehending what they mean.

All these skills in reading, writing, speaking, listening and hand-writing meant that almost all children left school at 12 years of age on average able to read, write, and speak their thoughts. The episode concludes with statistics from the 1881 and 1896 censuses as evidence of an education system that was producing a highly literate population.


Click to view

Professor Elizabeth Rata is a sociologist of education in the School of Critical Studies, Faculty of Education and Social Work at the University of Auckland where she is Director of the Knowledge in Education Research Unit (KERU).