Welsh Not

The Welsh Not was a token used by teachers at some schools in Wales, mainly in the 19th century, to discourage children from speaking Welsh at school, by marking out those who were heard speaking the language. It could be followed by an additional discipline; sometimes involving corporal punishment. There is evidence of the Welsh Not's use from the end of 18th to the start of the 20th century, but it was most common in the early- to mid- 19th century.

There was a widespread desire for children to learn English among Welsh people in the 19th century and the Welsh Not was not part of any government policy. The token was seen as a teaching aid to help children learn English. Over time, however, excluding Welsh began to be viewed as an ineffective way of teaching English and by the end of the 19th century schools were encouraged to use some Welsh in lessons.

Accounts suggest that its form and use varied from place to place, but it was most commonly a piece of wood hung on a string and worn around the child’s neck. Numerous names were used in contemporary sources; the Welsh Not became the most common name in the 20th century. The token remains prominent in Welsh collective memory.