Lesson Planning
[EDUCATION.]
‘École communale de garçons de Ste Florence (Vendée) dirigée par M. Esgonière.’ Sainte-Florence, 1876–1877.
Manuscript on paper, in French, folio (c. 355 x 240 mm), pp. [355], neatly written in brown ink in a single hand, up to 44 lines per page, illustrated with a hand drawn map of Sainte-Florence, a plan of the boys’ school, drawings of the Seine, Loire, Gironde, and Rhône, and several geometric diagrams; one leaf creased; very well preserved; bound in contemporary brown pebbled cloth, gilt-lettered black morocco label to upper cover; a little worn and marked; an envelope and a bill loosely inserted.
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‘École communale de garçons de Ste Florence (Vendée) dirigée par M. Esgonière.’
A very interesting and extremely detailed record of lessons given by Charles Esgonière at the boys’ school in the town of Sainte-Florence, in the Loire, during the academic year 1876–77, providing a valuable insight into provincial schooling in France in the last quarter of the nineteenth century.
The manuscript opens with a plan of the town of Sainte-Florence, a list of the neighbouring villages and the number of boys aged between six and thirteen living there, and a plan of the school showing its classrooms, schoolyards, and gardens. After giving a brief history of the school and town, Esgonière describes his teaching methods: as the only master for 115 pupils, he notes his reliance on monitors recruited from the older boys, and his need to be omnipresent and all seeing.
The bulk of the text comprises passages for reading, writing, and dictation; conjugations of verbs and grammar exercises; questions on French history and the Bible; mathematical problems; instruction in European geography; and sample letters, bills, and other documents. Loosely inserted is a bill addressed to Esgonière from his local bookshop and stationer.