Who started the Welsh not?

The "Welsh Not" is a term referring to a wooden stick or other object used as a punishment tool in Welsh schools during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was used to punish students who spoke Welsh in school, as part of a policy aimed at suppressing the Welsh language and promoting English.

It's important to note that the origin of the specific practice and the exact person who initiated it is difficult to pinpoint. The suppression of Welsh language was a policy enforced by the British government at the time, and it involved various individuals and institutions, including:

* The National Society for Promoting Religious Education (NSPRE): They established many schools in Wales, aiming to educate children in English and promote the Church of England. They actively discouraged the use of Welsh.

* Local schoolmasters and headteachers: They were often tasked with enforcing the policy and were responsible for using the Welsh Not as a disciplinary tool.

* The British government: The government supported the policy of English-only education and often provided funding for schools that followed it.

Therefore, attributing the start of the Welsh Not to a single person is inaccurate. It was a practice that emerged as part of a broader policy of language suppression, enforced by various individuals and institutions within the context of the British government's policies.