“Welsh not”
- In 1850s most people spoke Welsh. It was 90% monoglot Welsh speaking population.
- In the mid-19th century risings and riots broke out across the country.
- According to some MPs in Westminster, one possible reason was the continued existence of the Welsh language.
- After a speech in 1846 by William Williams, a Welsh MP presented a parliamentary report on the role of Welsh in education.
- The report found the provision of education in Wales to be extremely poor.
- The commissioners saw the Welsh language as a drawback and noted that the moral and material condition of the people would only improve with the introduction of English.
- This period is associated with that most hated symbol of English cultural oppression, the Welsh Not, or Welsh Note, a means of forcing Welsh children to speak English at school.
- The Welsh Not was a punishment used in some schools in Wales in the 19th and possibly early 20th century.
- It was represented as a piece of wood, inscribed with the letters "WN“ that was hung around the necks of children who spoke Welsh during the school day.
- The "not" was given to any child overheard speaking Welsh, who could pass it to a different child if they were overheard speaking Welsh.
- By the end of the day, the wearer of the "not" would be punished. The purpose of the "not" was to discourage pupils from speaking Welsh, at a time when English was considered by some to be the only suitable medium of instruction.