Figure 1.--This photograph shows a class doing drill holding weights above their heads. The school master is wearing a Scottish cap and has a walking stick/cane. The photograph is undated, but we wold guess was taken in the 1890s. the similar caps, white shirt, and knickers suggest it was a small private school. Notice the hats in the background. Put your cursor on the image to see the rest of the class.

Drill in the 19th century and early-20th century was commonly used as part of the school program. It was seen as useful in developng sisciplline. This was especially the case of state primary schools and appears to have become popular just as England was beginning to dvelop its state school system. And coincidentally at the sametime that Prussia was beinning its effort to unify Germany. This ould evntually lead to a military ribalry between Germany and England. And drill was seen as useful in preparing youth for potential future military service. Several educators promoted drill in the schools. A leading oromoter was Edwin Chadwick with the Society of Arts (1860s-70s). The Education Reform Act was a major step in building the state education system (1870). [McCann] One factor in the use of drill was space. Public (elite boarding) schools with spacious grounds could pursue games (sports). This ws something that state primaries or small preparatory schools did not have the grounds to do. Drill could be conducted with or without props like wooden batons, rifles, weights, or other items. It was a major part of the physical education program. Both the exercise and discipline was considered to be good for the children. Both boys and girls did drill. We see children during drill through the 1930s. We note children at the Douglas School, probably in the 1920s. Drill became less common after World War II.

The 19th Century

Drill throughout the 19th century century was commonly used as part of the school program. It was seen as useful in developng sisciplline. This was especially the case of state primary schools and appears to have become popular just as England was beginning to dvelop its state school system. And coincidentally at the sametime that Prussia was beinning its effort to unify Germany. This ould evntually lead to a military ribalry between Germany and England. And drill was seen as useful in preparing youth for potential future military service. Several educators promoted drill in the schools. A leading oromoter was Edwin Chadwick with the Society of Arts (1860s-70s). The Education Reform Act was a major step in building the state education system (1870). [McCann] One factor in the use of drill was space. Public (elite boarding) schools with spacious grounds could pursue games (sports). This ws something that state primaries or small preparatory schools did not have the grounds to do. Drill could be conducted with or without props like wooden batons, rifles, weights, or other items. It was a major part of the physical education program. Both the exercise and discipline was considered to be good for the children. Both boys and girls did drill.

The 20th Century

Drill continued to be widely used in schools in the early-20th century. We see numerous examples in the photographic record. Drill declined, however, as the cntury rogressed, especially after World War I in the 1920s. There were differnt reasons for this. World War I increased interest in school physical education programs. [Camp] Many young men were found not to be healthy enough for military service. It was first brought to national attention during the Bohr War. Even before the War, this was a prime mover for Baden Powell's interest in the youth movement. The shift from drill to other activities can be seen in the national curriculum. It was very much present in the 1903 model curriculum. After Workd War I we begin to see increasingly modern approaches to physical education. [Lowe] This was presumably bcause of the rising importance of sports in English life. Physical educations begn to diversifyand increasingly usd sport that the children found more interesting. While drill began to decline it did not immediately disppear. We see children during drill through the 1930s. We note children at the Douglas School, probably in the 1920s. We no longer see drill to any extent after World War II.

Sources

Camp, Frederick S. "Physical education and military drill: What should be our policy," Th School Review: A Journal of Secodary Education Vol. XXV, No. 8 ()ctober 1917&, pp. 537-45.

Lowe, Ed. "Drill, physical training and physical education in state schools," Prezi (March 23, 2017).

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Created: 11:41 AM 5/17/2017
Last updated: 9:29 PM 4/6/2018