I HAVE in my possession a complete set of my elementary school reports earned during the years 1935 to 1939 as a scholar of Chesham School in Bury.

I think it will be of interest to Bury Times readers, not only of my generation but also to younger ones as it gives an insight into the subjects covered and the class sizes of that time.

Exams were taken at Easter, in July and at Christmas each year and comprised 12 subjects: mental arithmetic, mechanical arithmetic, problems, reading, reproduction, composition, dictation, handwriting, intelligence, history, geography and nature study. Class sizes ranged from 25 to 39 and averaged 33, and the attendance rate and absence was also stated. The report was completed by the signatures of the class teacher, headmaster and, notably, the child's parent.

The teachers, as a matter of interest, were Miss V. Dyson, Miss D. Talbot, Miss M. Whitehead, Mr L. W. Fell and Mr A. Briggs, the headmaster.

I would be informative to compare these facts with the curricula of modern students aged 7-11 in order to highlight the changes in our education system over the years.

DEREK RYDER,

Ainsworth Road, Bury.