Pictorial evidence
How were schools heated in the past? Look at the drawing from 1879 which shows children carrying turf to school. This shows that schools had open fires to heat them. This explains why schools then had chimneys. We will see later that not only children in the 19th Century, but also children in the early 20th Century had to bring turf to school.
Children carrying turf to school 1879.
Picture from The National School System 1831-1924 Facsimile Documents Public Records Office of Ireland, State Papers
Picture from The National School System 1831-1924 Facsimile Documents Public Records Office of Ireland, State Papers
What do you think?
What do you think?
Examine the evidence
Examine the evidence
Fast Fact
Children in 1908 were not supposed to be punished for the offence of not bringing turf to school. The teacher in this case was reprimanded for punishing the children in this way.
Let's look at an 1908 punishment book
Let's look at an 1908 punishment book