THE SOVEREIGN HILL SCHOOLS
AN ADVENTURE FROM THE PAST IN A SCHOOL OF THE FUTURE
An adventure ... a two-day adventure ... that is how we like to look upon the programmes offered by our four 1850s goldfields’ schools: The Red Hill National School, St Peter’s Denominational School, the Ragged School and St Alipius Diggings School. The Sovereign Hill Schools offer a unique learning experience, which is exciting, challenging, and rewarding for students and teachers alike.
Students attend the schools for two days of costumed role-play, which highlights the vast differences between schooling on the Victorian Goldfields of the 1850s and education today.
Students are taught from the Irish National System of Education, which was used in mid- 19th century Australian schools. They use slates, sandboards, dip pens, copybooks and facsimile editions of original textbooks. Sitting on wooden benches at long desks, the students must observe the manners and demeanour of young Victorian ladies and gentlemen. Visiting teachers are also costumed and given a role to play - much to the delight of the children.
As well as time spent in the classroom, we take the children, in ordered lines of course, to visit various businesses and places of interest in the Sovereign Hill Township and diggings. Visits to The Wheelwrights, The Bakery, The Blacksmith and The Chinese Temple all help to demonstrate the social conditions that existed on the 1850s goldfields.
During their walk students also learn about goldfields’ life by meeting and interacting with costumed staff and volunteers who role-play 1850s characters. Sometimes in the classroom, their day may be interrupted by a doctor inspecting students for lice, by an angry next-door neighbour or a businessman on the lookout for a suitable employee.
In addition to this program we also offer a one day costumed school programme for year 2 children.
For more information about Sovereign Hill visit the website at www.sovereignhill.com.au
