Absent Through Want of Boots: Diary of a Victorian School in Leicestershire
192
Absent Through Want of Boots: Diary of a Victorian School in Leicestershire
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Overview
June 13th 1890: Mrs Bailey found Albert playing truant on Wednesday morning and brought him to school, giving him a good thrashing in the cap room with a stick she brought with her. December 11th 1908: The inclement weather has affected the average. Had two cases of boys not attending through want of boots. Following the 1870 Forster Elementary Education Act, Albert Road Board School in Leicestershire opened on September 2nd 1878, with an average role of 500 children. Drawn from the first-hand accounts of the head teachers in the school logbooks, this book details the diseases and ailments suffered; the struggle of local families to feed and clothe their children, especially during difficult times of strike and war; the introduction of vaccinations and the school health inspector; and comments about the curriculum, staff and leisure activities. Sometimes humorous but often sad, everyday life is captured here: from accounts of overcrowded classrooms and corporal punishment, to squabbles about tending the classroom fires, this book describes the reality of life in a Victorian school.
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9780750955294 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | The History Press |
| Publication date: | 04/01/2014 |
| Sold by: | Barnes & Noble |
| Format: | eBook |
| Pages: | 192 |
| File size: | 3 MB |
| Age Range: | 12 Years |
About the Author
Read an Excerpt
Absent Through Want of Boots
Diary of a Victorian School in Leicestershire
By Robert Elverstone
The History Press
Copyright © 2014 Robert ElverstoneAll rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-0-7509-5529-4
CHAPTER 1
Early Days, 1872–1878
In the early days following the 1870 Education Act, the Hinckley Board acquired temporary premises in the congregational church. This allowed time for planning and building the new school.
1872
October 12th: The school was opened on Monday 7th by Mr S.U. Frazer, Certificated Master of the Class One. Several members of the School Board were present and Mr Kiddle, Clerk to the Board, attended for the purpose of enrolling pupils. The week was mainly occupied in organising the school and classifying the pupils. The attendance was very regular and reasonable progress was made. The children seem to be accustomed to but little – if any – homework.
October 19th: The week now ended has been a very busy one. The children were examined, with a view to classification; classes were arranged, details of school routine settled, order and discipline fairly started and satisfactory progress made in actual teaching. By desire of the Board, Mr Frazer undertook the management of the Infant Department until the Board should appoint a Certificated Mistress. Messrs Atkins and Aucott called to consult about books, maps and other apparatus required. The pupil teachers have been punctual and regular and have shown a desire to give satisfaction, which promises well for the future.
November 2nd: Many of the children say that they cannot attend to any home lessons because they have to work all the time they are out of school. In one case, the withdrawal of a pupil was threatened if home lessons of any kind were insisted on.
November 9th: A number of new scholars this week, whose height and age might justify one in assuming some progress in education, do not know the alphabet and can neither write nor figure.
December 20th: School closed for Christmas Holidays, to meet again on December 30th.
December 30th: School reopened after Christmas Holiday, by E. Guilford. Number present at all during week: 27.
1873
January 13th: Numbers fewer in the morning on account of the cattle market in front of the school.
January 20th: First week of competition for attendance prizes with a view to improve the daily attendance. Thirty-eight present at all during week. Children improving in cleanliness
February 3rd: Attendance poor; wretched weather. The snow very deep on the playground, which prevents the children from coming to school.
February 10th: Fees reduced one penny per week.
February 14th: Twenty-three gained the ticket for regular attendance
February 25th: A bitter cold morning and snowing fast at nine o'clock which has caused the numbers to be very low. School closed for a half-holiday as it is Shrove Tuesday.
March 5th: Following a request for curtains to separate a group of desks, Mr Farndon and Mr Kiddle visited to take the measurement. During their stay, the children sang several songs and performed various exercises etc. which were much approved and commended to by the gentlemen.
April 4th: Forty-four children gained the blue ticket for regular attendance i.e. had attended ten noons during the week.
April 21st: Sarah Jane Buckler entered on her engagement as pupil teacher. Miss Buckler works satisfactorily, and manages class very well indeed for the first week.
May 21st: Weather very uncomfortable, the rain falling fast all morning, which has caused the attendance to be considerably lower than usual.
June 16th: Highest class examined in numeration and arithmetic, result very fair. Several children away with hooping [sic] cough.
July 19th: Number present at all this week 100, highest number attained. Of these, sixty-one gained the regular attendance ticket.
August 22nd: School closed this morning, for a fortnight, on account of the fair etc.
September 8th: School reopened after Harvest Holidays. Sarah Ann Penn entered on her engagement as pupil teacher.
September 8th: Attendance low this morning on account of Statutes and fair; school closed for a half -holiday this afternoon.
September 26th: A new set of Royal Prince reading books used this week, the others being too old for use. A box of Form and Colour purchased and used. Children highly delighted with it; but very backward at finding the colours. Sarah Ann Penn is unable to obtain a medical certificate, and will therefore be unable to remain as pupil teacher.
October 17th: School closed for this afternoon, circus in town.
October 27th: Attendance rather lower than last week; several children absent with blister pox.
November 13th: Sarah Treaddell appointed as pupil teacher by School Board, duties to commence on Monday, November 17th.
November 17th: HM Inspectors Report – J.R. Blakiston Esq.:
The infants are in fair order and taught with fair success. The discipline would be yet more efficient were the Mistress to cultivate more repose of manner and a more subdued tone of voice.
The main room being furnished with desks fit only for older children is not favourable to infants teaching or management. Some of the desks should be replaced by a gallery, and the remainder furnished with footboards.
Specimens of needlework should be shown at the annual examination of scholars. Stocking seaming for payment is allowed to be done in school hours. As the By-laws of the School Board make attendance at the school compulsory, it cannot be urged, as it is in some adjoining villages, that if forbidden to bring such work, girls would not attend school. It would seem however that the By-laws are not enforced, at least many children of school age are to be seen idling in the streets of the town during school hours.
December 19th: School closed this morning for Christmas Holidays, to reopen January 5th 1874.
1874
January 12th: Cattle market held in front of school. Youngest children unable to come. Attendance rather low. Two boys sent to the upper school being seven years of age.
January 26th: Laverna Dudley entered on her engagement as pupil teacher.
February 7th: Attendance not as good as last week. Weather very cold and frosty; so severe that several children are unable to come to school.
March 12th: Public examination of children held in the upper room. Infants read and sang several pieces, which gave great satisfaction to a crowded audience. It was proposed and carried 'that the children should have a holiday tomorrow as they had worked so hard before'.
April 4th: School closed this morning for Good Friday and Easter Holidays, to reopen Monday, April 14th.
May 22nd: School closed this morning for a week's holiday (Whitsuntide)
June 19th: Several children away this week with hooping [sic] cough.
July 3rd: Attendance good during week until today; circus in the town, attendance low.
July 29th: Attendance rather low this afternoon in consequence of school treats at the Church School.
August 2nd: Two children left in consequence of a child two years old being refused admittance here. The whole family admitted into Church School, no fees being charged for the youngest child.
August 21st: School closed this morning for a fortnight's holiday, to be reopened September 9th 1874.
September 17th: School closed for a half-holiday this afternoon on account of the Statutes and fair.
October 26th: Attendance low today; a menagerie in the town and holiday for stockingers which has kept a number of children at home.
November 17th: Report of HM Inspector J.R. Blakiston Esq.:
The infants are handled and taught with fair success. The mistress' time should be wholly devoted to instruction of the infants and a sewing mistress appointed to take the older girls in needlework. It will be well not to relax the rule of refusing to admit children less than four years of age.
The remarks made last year in condemnation of the practice of allowing seaming to be done in the school, have been interpreted as expressing approval of the practice. This and fancy work should forthwith be banished from the school, and far more attention given to plain needlework, in which the girls are woefully deficient. A drill sergeant's aid would be found useful in teaching the boys habits of good order and prompt obedience.
November 25th: A heavy fall of snow during the night has considerably lowered the attendance.
December 18th: On account of the inclement state of the weather, the attendance has been low throughout the week, especially in the two lowest classes. School closed this morning for the Christmas Holidays, to be reopened January 4th 1875.
1875
January 15th: On Monday a cattle market was held close to the school, which prevented a number of children coming. Several children promoted from the lowest class into the third. Teachers and children worked satisfactorily. Special attention has been given to the plain sewing.
February 8th: Weather very cold and snow on the ground, which has reduced the attendance considerably.
February 9th: Shrove Tuesday. School closed for a half-holiday this afternoon.
March 25th: School closed this morning for the Easter Holidays, to reopen April 5th 1875.
April 29th: E. Guilford, head teacher, sent in her resignation to the School Board.
May 14th: School closed this morning for Whitsuntide Holidays, to reopen Monday May 24th 1875.
June 29th: Entered upon the duties of this school. E.M. West.
July 21st: S.J. Buckler and S. Treaddell had leave of absence this afternoon to attend the children's treat at the Church School. Very few children in consequence of the treat.
August 11th: Too wet for children to go out for play: marching instead. Gave a lesson on 'form' for one of the pupil teachers.
August 16th: Had poetry repeated the last half hour because the children were tired and sleepy.
September 23rd: Half-holiday for the fair.
October 5th: Attendance visitor called; many children away through sickness.
November 4th: Mrs Reeves called for the second time this week to see if her boys were at school as they are continually running away.
November 5th: Mrs Reeves brought her children to school this morning.
November 12th: The new attendance visitor appointed by the Board called in this morning to enquire about a list of irregular children. Mr Kiddle came in with the report of HM Inspector J.R. Blakiston Esq.:
The infants are in nice order and their attainments are very fair. There is room for improvement in lessons on natural history and common things.
Novermber 25th: Headmistress sent in resignation to the Board.
December 3rd: Small school owing to a fall of snow during the night – sixty-one present in the morning.
December 15th: Mr Kiddle, Mr Abell and Mr Atkins came in school and heard the children sing.
December 23rd: Closed school this afternoon for the Christmas Holidays.
1876
January 10th: School opened after the Christmas Holidays by K. Ford.
February 14th: Attendance low, forty children present. A deep snow the cause of decrease in numbers.
March 20th: S. Buckley sent by the Board into the third department – Effie Hamson came in place of S. Buckley.
April 3rd: Head teacher absent today – received a letter from the Board stating their acceptance of resignation.
April 28th: Commenced school on Monday after the Easter Holiday. Admitted thirty-four fresh children: the large number admitted is chiefly owing to the closing of Dame School. Found the Class One girls rather backward in needlework – am taking them myself for that subject. Arranged to take the pupil teachers from twelve to one and from four to five in the evening, as they are rather behind their work.
May 6th: Have let the children go out for three or four minutes in the afternoon as the room gets very close by three. Average for the week: 146.
May 13th: On Wednesday two children left in consequence of being reproved for coming dirty. School visited on Thursday by T. Kiddle Esq. who brought the cotton and needles for the knitting. Criticised Miss Dudley's lesson on 'Copper' Thursday afternoon; her language needs care.
May 20th: On Tuesday commenced teaching knitting. The children do not take to it very well.
May 25th: Examined the Class Three in reading; many of them did not know their letters and have sent them back into the classroom. Also examined the little ones and find that though Effie Hamson manages them well and the order is good, still they do not learn much. Have been obliged to forbid the pupil teachers the use of the cane.
June 2nd: Gave the pupil teachers an examination in the work of the last six weeks. The whole of the papers show want of care. The language paper was the best.
June 12th: Opened school this morning after a week's holiday. Attendance fair. The bed for the babies has arrived but is not very large. Admitted five fresh children: was obliged to send two back as they were too young.
June 16th: The children were not able to go out to play Thursday morning, owing to the wet weather. Time spent in singing. Two children came in at ten past three: sent them home again. On Wednesday gave the babies kindergarten instead of counting.
June 24th: Applied this week to the Board for a teacher in the place of E. Hamson, who cannot manage the infants so well, now there are so many.
June 30th: Two children have left this week to go to the Church School in order to go to the treat. Found it advisable to take a class in the playground Wednesday and Thursday as the weather was very hot.
July 5th: A woman came in this morning to complain about her child being ill-used yesterday afternoon. I spoke to Effie about it – was in the room a little before four and found them alright so there must be some mistake. Have noticed a decided improvement in the pupil teachers' work this last fortnight. I spoke to Miss Dudley concerning her behaviour to the children; she is too violent with them.
July 22nd: The attendance this week has been very bad, partly owing to the town cricket match and partly to the school treat. This morning examined the Class One in writing and arithmetic and found they did very well, nineteen out of twenty-five passing. Average for the week: 107.
July 26th: Have been obliged to speak to Miss Treaddell concerning her lessons. She is getting rather careless.
July 31st: Miss Treaddell's lessons badly done again. On Friday gave the pupil teachers an examination in arithmetic, when they passed very well.
August 3rd: Sent in the returns for July to the Board today. Average for the month 133 and the fees amount to £2 8s. Miss Treaddell's work has improved since I spoke to her.
August 10th: Left the school in the care of the pupil teachers for the last half hour this afternoon in order to go to a picnic.
August 16th: A woman came this morning and indignantly insisted upon the attendance visitor not being sent after her children as they always came to school. I could not make her understand that in consequence of their so frequently coming after the registers were closed they were marked absent. Miss Buckler complained of the same thing this afternoon. 'If the visitor is sent again, the children will be removed.'
August 19th: Gave an exam to the pupil teachers this week and sent in the papers to the Board. Miss Dudley's history and Miss Treaddell's geography was not well done.
August 23rd: Applied to the Board for a week more holiday, which they have been kind enough to grant.
September 11th: Commenced work again this morning. Miss Miles appointed by the Board as pupil teacher. She is to come a month on trial. Miss Dudley sent word that she had obtained permission from the Board to stay away this week.
September 15th: Have been obliged to deviate a little from the timetable this week, on account of Miss Dudley's absence. So far Miss Miles has proved satisfactory; she is quick and quiet.
September 21st: Attendance not quite as good this morning in consequence of the fair. Half-holiday this afternoon.
September 24th: Attendance not so good in consequence of a circus being in the town.
September 25th: Effie Hamson had permission this afternoon to go to the circus.
September 26th: Gave the pupil teachers a final examination in history and arithmetic. Miss Dudley's carelessly done.
September 27th: Have allowed the Class One girls an extra half an hour of needlework this week in order to finish the work for the exam.
September 29th: Sent several children back today for their school pence.
October 9th: Attendance poor, weather very wet. Children marched during playtime and had a kindergarten game.
October 17th: Was obliged to send one child home again this morning as it was not yet three years old.
October 19th: Miss Dudley away without leave. Wrote to the Board about her.
October 23rd: Miss Dawkins commenced work this morning. She is very intelligent, and seems to manage very well. Commenced fractions and analysis with the pupil teachers.
October 27th: Was obliged to close school this afternoon on account of a circus being in the town.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from Absent Through Want of Boots by Robert Elverstone. Copyright © 2014 Robert Elverstone. Excerpted by permission of The History Press.
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Table of Contents
Contents
Title,Acknowledgements,
Introduction,
one Early Days, 1872–1878,
two New Beginnings, 1878–1881,
three Golden Jubilee, 1882–1888,
four A New Book, 1889–1893,
five Diphtheria, 1894–1896,
six End of an Era, 1897–1904,
seven Want of Boots, 1905–1913,
eight The Great War, 1914–1919,
nine Age of Reform, 1920–1942,
ten Post-1942,
Copyright,