Last updated 15:30, Sunday, 18 May 2008

SCHOOL speech days! We’ve all had to suffer these annual rituals at some time. I know I did. Thankfully, I can’t remember too much about any of them.

But all speech days follow the same pattern. Welcoming words from the head teacher, one – or more – specially invited dignitaries regale those present with a plethora of platitudes, prizes are presented, the school song is sung (if anyone can remember the words) and everyone goes home.

There must have been more to them than that – but not to those of an age group more interested in Presley than Pestalozzi.

Reports of early speech days can be quite interesting.

Honestly! Take the annual presentation of prizes to the pupils of Workington’s Croft House College, which was held in the Wesleyan schoolroom back in 1891.

Two local clergymen, Canon Thornley and the Rev Hebblethwaite, gave speeches.

Canon Thornley extolled the virtues of education, reminding his audience that Britain was in competition educationally with our European neighbours, especially Germany.

Rev Hebblethwaite was also in favour of a good education for all.

He was, and this wouldn’t go down too well with many of today’s educationalists, also in favour of competition. More than that, he claimed that “ambition was a divinely implanted instinct.”

Certificates from the “Society of Science Letters & Art” were presented to those pupils who had made their grades.

Then everyone watched as the pupils gave a display of gymnastics. In the form of a musical drill, it involved the use of dumb bells, Indian clubs (whatever happened to Indian clubs?) and “stick drill”, whatever that was. Any ideas?

The display, which had been directed by Sgt Windeler, the drill instructor, was a great success.

Canon Thornley declared himself in favour of more schools taking up gymnastics “as they tended to the desirable end of a healthy mind in a healthy body.”

He wished that a good gymnasium could be built in Workington.

Another cleric, Rev A E Palin, agreed. He also thought more attention should be paid to physical education.

He was glad that Croft House was into “the education of the body because, it would prevent some forms of dress which caused much mischief at times!”

He explained. “Even in Cumberland, which was noted for the walking powers of its young ladies, he had known young women who had died from the effects of tight lacing.” He hoped that “wasp waists” would become a thing of the past and claimed that “gentlemen certainly did not like to see them.”

It was probably the last thing parents wanted to hear - a clergyman pontificating about fashion. But he was also in favour of Workington getting a gymnasium.

William Lewis gave a vote of thanks and invited the assembled parents to view the display of pupils’ art and craft work. It was a successful event, a bit self congratulatory perhaps, but definitely nothing too political or controversial.

So different from the keynote speech delivered by Monica Wingate at Workington Grammar School speech day in 1958. She was well qualified to talk about educational matters, being Head of a Training College.

She had a message for all politicians “who were inclined to interfere with the job of the school teacher.” It was “Hands off. Stop interfering.” She desperately wanted to keep party politics out of education.

This was in 1958. Then she could quite justifiably state that “If doctors were interfered with they would tell the politicians to run the hospitals themselves.”

She felt that politicians should consult with teachers, who knew what the real problems were, before making policy decisions. They should also do the same before they spoke in public. That way they would avoid making fools of themselves.” Strong stuff!

But then she was a sister of Orde Wingate, of Chindit fame, who was, reportedly, no respecter of reputations.

She also had another brother – GNF Wingate, who was general manager of Distington Engineering.

At least she didn’t talk about waistlines, miniskirts or hair length. But if she thought politicians were “interfering” in educational matters back in 1958, whatever would she think about the state of education, or the health service, today?