Thanks to all who responded to my query. Just a few further comments:
<AlwynapHuw(a)aol.com> wrote:
When one is looking at the sociology of the Welsh Language one of the
problems is that there has never been any rule or law that has either
prohibited or proscribed the use of Welsh, and until 1967 none that
promoted
it either. Support or opposition to the language has always been down
to
fads, fashions, movements and opinions which have varied in different
parts
of Wales at different times.
I said earlier that I had read that Welsh was sanctioned in schools from the
1870s, but I should have checked my sources. From the Oxford Popular History
of Britain (p.535):
"In Wales ... local initiative secured the teaching of Welsh in schools from
1889."
I have read elsewhere of the Welsh Intermediate Education Act (1889) as a
product of growing Welsh political radicalism, and I am guessing that this
was what introduced the teaching of Welsh, which I presume is what Alwyn is
referring to here:
It was not until the mid 1880's that the idea of using Welsh in
education
became an idea that was taken seriously by educationalists and education
authorities, so claims that your ancestor was FORCED to resign in the
early
60's because he couldn't speak Welsh are a bit doubtful.
However ideas
tend
to have a gestation period of much longer than 15 years before they
are
taken
seriously, so he may have seen which way the wind was blowing and
decided
to
jump before he was pushed (I would probably have been caned by him in
the
1860's for mixing metaphors<g>).
Knowing that Welsh teaching hadn't been officially introduced as early as
the 1860s, I too was a bit cautious about taking this story at face value,
but I thought I'd check it out with you who know more about the area and
culture than I do. I had wondered if there might have been strong local
factions pressing for the teaching of Welsh, but in view of what Alun Evans
has written about the village (Tregynon), this sounds unlikely. So while my
ancestor might to some extent have seen what was coming, this may not have
been the only reason for him going back to Yorkshire.
I shall similarly leave you and return to the Yorkshire lists in a few days,
but would be happy to receive any further comments privately. One day
perhaps I shall get to the archives to look at the school log books etc, but
meanwhile, thanks again for your thoughts.
Arthur