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A. Reed remembers.
Swalwell Board School had been opened for 26 years when I first attended it in 1901. Mr William Spears was then headmaster, a greatly respected man although much feared, as were all the teachers. They were great disciplinarians and punished any misbehaviour or insolence swiftly and effectively.
At 8.55 am each morning the bell, high up in the school roof, would be heard. That was the dreaded first bell heralding all to school. At 9.00am, lined up in Standards 1 to V11, the day began. Silence fell upon the class with the approach of "Miss" or "Sir", and would remain.
Class instruction was always given and whether the subject was understood or not silence reigned. No-one asked anything. Every subject was taken very seriously and written carefully in pen and ink. Any, unnecessary mistakes were dealt with by a quick rap over the knuckles. Particular attention was paid to writing and spelling. I remember the hours and hours of tedious practice, but we all left school able to read and write properly.