Children’s tableaux at a League of Nations Union Rally at Bentham
Lancaster Guardian, 1 Sep 1933
Lancaster LNU tried to reach young people in other ways than through schools. As Birn said: ‘Educators often argued that ‘the extra-curricular approach, … the pageants, the plays etc. were more useful than the history lesson.’ (1) In 1927, the Secretary, Mrs Dowbiggin, reported that they had a dozen young people on the Executive Council, their active workers in the churches were young people and ‘this winter [1926/7] five Young People’s Societies have opened their meetings to League speakers and made us cordially welcome.’ In 1929 she said that the branch was hoping to do more work with Sunday Schools. One way of teaching young people about the League of Nations was through drama, and Mrs Dowbiggin produced a ‘Juvenile Play,’ while both Lancaster and Bentham held ‘Peace Pageants.’ At the 1933 Lancaster League of Nations Union rally at Quernmore Park prizes were awarded to children for essays and posters. Scouts, Guides and Lads’ Clubs helped at LNU events. (1)
References/Further Reading:
(1) D. S. Birn, 1981. The League of Nations 1919-1945. Oxford: Clarendon Press, p.139-40.
Lancaster Guardian, 29 Jan 1927, 23 Mar 1929, 26 Jan 1924 & 25 Aug 1933.