Description
Object description
British schoolchild in London, 1914-1918; civilian teacher in London, Swindon, Cricklade and Carbis Bay, GB, 1939-1945
Content description
REEL 1 Recollections of period as schoolchild in London, GB, 1914-1918: memories of outbreak of First World War, 4/8/1914; family including question of mother's German origins; singing German songs; education; story of boys throwing stones at family and problem of anti-German feelings; Imperial German Army Air Service bombing raids on London; Armistice Day celebrations, 11/11/1918; question of being an internationalist and attitude towards Empire Day; food shortages and queuing; obtaining school certificates. Recollections of period as teacher in London, GB, 1928-1939: background to training as teacher and qualifying, 1928; comments on 1926 Education Act; question of women obtaining teaching posts; first job as teacher at Bow Creek School, 2/1929.
REEL 2 Continues: description of Bow Creek School and living conditions of pupils; problem of high unemployment in area; social conditions of pupils; story of teacher training children to dance; move to Cologne Street School and description of conditions; opinion of mothers of poor children; visit to Germany and hearing Adolf Hitler giving speech in Weimar; attitude to growing threat of war. Recollections of period as teacher in London, Swindon, Cricklade and Carbis Bay, GB, 1939-1945: reaction to outbreak of Second World War, 3/9/1939; preparations to evacuate children from school.
REEL 3 Continues: journey from London to Swindon with children and reception in church hall; selection process and question of attractive young girls being selected first; story of two brothers and selection process; accommodation provided for evacuees and question of low morale; communication with parents; story of two young girls being made to sleep on floor; opinion of billeting system for evacuees; teaching conditions in Swindon; move to school in Cricklade and accommodation; problem of lack of teaching resources.
REEL 4 Continues: treatment of children with head lice; relations with local population; question of parental visits; problem of homesickness amongst children; move to teaching post in Jewish school in East End of London; traveling through German Air Force bombing campaign in London, 1940-1941; story of family home being destroyed in German Air Force raid and being buried in rubble; evacuation of parents following raid; move to North London and accommodation; German Air Force bombing of Bounds Green Underground Station; move back to Swindon and opinion of local authorities, 1941.
REEL 5 Continues: attitude of people in Swindon towards conditions in London; daily life and teaching role in Swindon; move to to teach in Hendras Hotel Council School, Carbis Bay to teach in school for girls with intellectual disabilities; description of school and pupils; question of attitude of Church of England towards school; problem of teaching the girls; behavioural and sexual problems among girls including venereal disease; story of German Air Force attack on beach at Carbis Bay.
REEL 6 Continues: question of employment of older girls; parental attitudes to evacuated children; story of fiancé being killed in war and reaction to end of Second World War, 1945. Aspects of post-war life and employment in GB: various teaching posts in London; effects of Second World War on standards of education; comparison of education standards in London and Swindon; opinion of evacuation policy and organisation; attitude to possibility of another war.
