Cymru: The Treachery of the Blue Books

This news item (below) was published on the The History of Wales Facebook page. It records the infamous Blue Books' report. A disgraceful and direct attack on the Welsh language and culture. It spurred on the movement for Welsh self-government. A movement that is as relevant now as it ever was with ever increasing calls and growing support for an independent Wales:

"The Treachery of the Blue Books.

On this day 1847, the infamous 'Blue Books' a report on the state of education in Wales were presented to the Government.

A public enquiry was carried out as a result of pressure from Welshman William Williams, MP for Coventry, who was concerned about the state of education in Wales. The enquiry was carried out by three Englishmen, R.R.W Lingen, Jellynger. C. Symons and H. R. Vaughan Johnson, who met to discuss their findings at The Lion Hotel in Builth Wells. Because none of them spoke Welsh, they relied on the information of witnesses, mostly Anglican clergymen at a time when Wales was mostly Nonconformist.

The report concluded;

* That schools in Wales were extremely inadequate.

* That teachers should only speak English in areas where children only spoke Welsh.

* Welsh speaking children had to rely on the Nonconformist Sunday Schools to acquire literacy.

* That the Welsh were ignorant, lazy and immoral as a result of the use of Welsh and Nonconformity.

There was a furious reaction in Wales where they were referred to as “Brad Y Llyfrau Gleision” The Treachery of the Blue Books and they are thought to have been instrumental in the birth of the modern Welsh self-government movement. Saunders Lewis suggested that they were “the most important nineteenth century historical document we possess”.