Welsh Not

Common card · No. 341992

The Welsh Not was a token used by teachers at some schools in Wales, mainly in the 19th century, to discourage children from speaking Welsh, by marking out those who were heard speaking the language. It could be followed by an additional discipline, sometimes involving corporal punishment. There is evidence of the Welsh Not's use from the end of 18th to the start of the 20th century, but it was most common in the early- to mid-19th century. There was a widespread belief in Wales in the 19th century that it was beneficial for children to learn English. The token known as the Welsh Not was not part of any government policy, but was seen by teachers as a way to encourage children to learn English. Over time, however, excluding Welsh began to be viewed as an ineffective way of teaching English. By the end of the 19th century schools were encouraged to use some Welsh in lessons though many schools in Welsh-speaking areas remained predominantly English-language, but some teachers continued to...

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