In 1911, schoolchildren across Britain went on strike. One hundred years later, the Stanley and Audrey Burton Gallery remembers these extraordinary events in Leeds and across the nation, with a new display. ‘School’s Out! Leeds and the 1911 Schools Strike’ runs from 22 August until 1 October 2011. The Gallery is open from Mon-Sat, 10-5pm and admission is free.
On 5 September 1911, a group of 30 boys marched out of Bigyn council school in Llanelli (south-west Wales) to protest the caning of one of their peers. Within days, pupils in more than sixty towns throughout Britain had taken to the streets to express their grievances. Among them were approximately 300 boys in Leeds, who marched out of their schools on 12th and 13th September 1911.
Although thousands of children were involved, they still only represented a tiny proportion of the school-age population at the time. Their significance, however, does not relate to numbers, but the fact that young people, albeit a minority, felt empowered enough to speak out on issues that concerned them.
Guest curated by Sarah Prescott, the display includes materials from the Mattison Collection (University of Leeds Library Special Collections), and charts the development of British socialism and the history of the Labour Party and the Independent Labour Party. The exhibition also include archival material from West Yorkshire Archives Service, and artwork created by pupils at local schools today in response to the events of 100 years ago.
“Student strikes and children’s protests are not new phenomena” said Sarah Prescott “This exhibition explores a fascinating, but previously neglected incident in Leeds’ local history, bringing exciting material from the University’s Special Collections to a new audience.”
The display will be complemented by a programme of related events, including the popular Burton Saturdays, free creative activities suitable for all ages. Full event details can be found at www.leeds.ac.uk/gallery/events.htm. To avoid disappointment, please contact the Gallery before you visit. as many special events are held in the Education Room, and so it is sometimes closed to regular visitors.
The Stanley and Audrey Burton Gallery, Parkinson Building, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK. Tel: 0113 343 2778 email: gallery@leeds.ac.uk
