EAST MIDLANDS GENERAL BAPTIST HISTORY

Baxter Gate Boys' Sunday School

The religious beliefs held by Nonconformists meant that they put a high premium on reading and writing. It was very important to them to be able to read the Bible, so they made sure that their children had the best education that could be provided. Fortunately, the Baptists not only kept very detailed records, but many of them have survived.

The Baxter Gate Boys Sunday School records from 1826 to 1828 include descriptions of the standards that they set for themselves:

9th Division : Boys unable to tell all their letters, to be taught their letters

8th Division : Boys able to read the alphabet in any way, to be taught to read words of 2 letters

7th Division : Boys can read words of 2 letters, to be taught to read words of 3 letters

6th Division : Boys able to read words of 3 letters, to be taught to read words of 4 or more letters

5th Division : Boys able to read any words of 1 syllable, to be taught to read words of 2 syllables

4th Division : Boys able to read 2 syllables, to be taught to read 3 syllables

3rd Division : Boys able to read words of 3 syllables, to be taught to read words of 4 or more syllables

2nd Division : Boys able to read words of 4 syllables or above, and have to be taught to read the New Testament easily, fluently and correctly

1st Division : The boys are able to read the New Testament easily, fluently and correctly

Source: Leicestershire & Rutland Record Office ref. N/B/207A/75

Transcribed & contributed by: Mike Gould, Leicestershire
(Researching: QUAIL, QUAYLE & variations)

East Midlands General Baptist History


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© Copyright Blanche Charles, 2004