From the archive: Education in wartime
Janet Scott looks at how the impact of the first world war on education, and especially on Quaker schools in Britain, was reported in the pages of the Friend
No aspect of life was left undisturbed by the war. Even though education was recognised to be important school buildings were requisitioned, then given back when they were not needed. The headmaster of Friends’ School Saffron Walden, John Edward Walker, reported:
‘The School was dispersed at very short notice on December 9th for billeting some 300 men and 30 officers of the 6th South Staffordshire Territorials who still occupy the premises. Our efforts with the Board of Education and the War Office to have the troops removed in time to reopen school on January 16th were not successful, and the attempt to find other premises in the short time at our disposal also failed. Through the kindness and generous help of some other of our schools most of the boys and girls preparing for certificate examinations are enabled to continue their studies without serious interruption, and we confidently hope to reopen as usual after the Easter holidays.’
The Friend, 12 February 1915
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