The Early Days of Newton School by Wendy Cope

THE EARLY DAYS OF NEWTON SCHOOL

by Wendy Cope

1861 or 1862 would seem to be the start of a campaign to have a school in Newton. The only education available in the village had been a private school which had been run for very many years by James Bennett. He was by now in his nineties and had most probably stopped teaching some years previously. Some money for a new school had already been raised by July 1862 when the more affluent ladies of the locality organised a fancy fair and bazaar on a plot of ground adjoining the Crawshay's house at Langland Bay in order to help raise £350 necessary for the erection of a schoolroom in Newton, which they described as being a great boon to the whole district.

The Crawshay family and the Strick family were in the charge of the stalls in the bazaar marquee and there were sideshows such as an Aunt Sally. Yachts and boats in the bay were bedecked with flags and the band of the 3rd Glamorgan Volunteer Corps played for everyone's enjoyment. It was a very successful day and raised about £150, bringing the total raised to £300. The following summer another equally successful bazaar was held in aid of the expenses of building Newton schoolroom. In its edition of 12th December 1862 the Cambrian reported that Newton schoolroom had opened on 27th November and the children had been entertained at a substantial dinner. That schoolroom in Nottage Road served the children of Newton for a hundred years.

The first two years of the school remain unrecorded as the school log book does not start until January 9th 1865 when Miss Howells took charge as schoolmistress. 36 children attended that morning, but some were obviously not impressed as there were only 29 the next day. Schooling was not compulsory at this time and during the year the number of children attending ranged from 20 to 40. The Strick family gave considerable support to Miss Howells. Miss Emma, Miss Harriet and Miss Annie would come in and take the youngest children for a lesson

  The vicar, the Rev. Montague Welby and his wife were also frequent visitors. In June, the Diocesan Inspector, Mr Horman Fisher, made his visit and tested the children in Reading, Writing, Spelling, Arithmetic, Scripture and Catechism. He was followed in November by B. J. Binns, the Government Inspector, who provisionally certified Miss Howells as a schoolmistress in the 4th Class. A year after taking charge of Newton School Miss Howells married Thomas Howell, a copper roller, at Kilvey Church. Just before the wedding she wrote in the log book "Children's treat in the afternoon when a time-piece was presented to me as a token of remembrance and respect from my scholars." The presentation was made by Rev. J. Colston, principal of the private Thistleboon School and curate of Oystermouth. The children's treat started with tea followed by a magic lantern show and "the very amusing exhibition of a supposed dwarf." The children then sang some songs for the company who had gathered for the presentation. Mrs. Howell stayed on as schoolmistress to the end of 1866.

On January 21st 1867, after a long Christmas break, a new schoolmistress, Mary E. Thomas, took charge of the school. The Misses Strick appear to have given up their regular visits and help with teaching and in April Mrs. Thomas wrote "I find it very disorderly to have needlework and lessons every afternoon at the same time without assistance."  The children's behaviour and attendance gave her problems. Many arrived late in the mornings, so she began to issue reward tickets to those who arrived early. They were redeemed later in the year.

Parents were very ready to keep the children away from school to help with various tasks, such as collecting seaweed for the fields, potato planting, haymaking, harvesting and picking potatoes. 

Then on fine summer days all the older children were required to look after the donkeys which carried visitors to the bays. At the end of 1867 the Diocesan Inspector reported that " The school is now better attended than heretofore and with attention to discipline on the part of Mrs Thomas an improvement may be expected." There were now about 50 children on the roll. The Government Inspector was less happy. "The attendance is larger than formerly but the discipline is still only moderate and will require firmness and attention. The attainments are not much advanced as yet, only six scholars being presented in the 3rd standard and upwards. Arithmetic is rather backward especially notation." He goes on to explain that as not enough children had reached the higher standards he was deducting one tenth of the school's government grant. While cutting the allowance he was also demanding that they purchase maps, reading cards and prints, which they did not do as they did not have enough money, so he repeated the request the next year, when again the government grant was reduced because the children "passed so bad an examination in Arithmetic." By the end of 1871 the Inspector could see some improvement but railed against the patchy attendance of pupils, and in 1875 he again wrote that some maps and prints would be desirable.

There is a gap in the log book from the inspector's report in November 1871 to August 1873. This implies that Mrs. Thomas had left, as the first few entries suggest a new teacher finding her way through the stock and getting to know the children's attainments. "Divided the children into three classes. Found only six could read, of the remaining thirty only five knew the alphabet." This teacher only recorded the school's progress for three months. There is then another gap in the log book with no mention of activity in 1874 but at some time in that year Mrs Lucy Wiseman, an unqualified mistress, began to teach the children. The inspector made his annual visit at the end of 1874, commenting on a lack of reading books, maps and prints and that the pupils were mostly very young. He had faint praise for the schoolmistress "endeavouring to do her duty as well as she can" and was prepared to grant her a certificate of the 3rd class. Her first entry in the logbook on 28th February 1875, said "This week received my certificate."

The second half of 1875 saw an outbreak of fever in the village starting in August and increasing through October and November with many of the children being afflicted. At the end of 1875 the inspector said that Mrs. Wiseman "has so far been tolerably successful under somewhat difficult circumstances." a comment not only on the outbreak of fever but also the continuing lack of money to equip the school. "Her supply of reading books is very defective, the few at present in use being torn and dilapidated." Fortunately, Miss Young, the daughter of Islay Young the Swansea borough treasurer, who lived at Callencroft, in New Well Lane, bought the school six standard one books after this, but Mrs. Wiseman still had to resort to using oak apples to teach the youngest children to count.  One subject that regularly gained the inspector's approval was needlework, as local visiting ladies appeared to be happy to supply materials for plain sewing. "Miss Young sent some calico for the children to sew and to be afterwards given to the poorer children." At the end of 1877 the inspector gave a better report but he still commented "A set of maps, a book cupboard, an additional set of books and a timepiece are much wanted." Mrs Wiseman had enrolled her daughter Ellen Wiseman as her assistant which probably helped raise the level of attainment.

.She was no longer mainly dealing with the younger children whom she was qualified to teach. Mr Binns returned early in October, found the registers still unmarked and received Mrs. Wiseman's resignation.

The vicar quickly found a replacement, Mrs. Sophia Mitchell, who was a pupil teacher at Pentrechwith Infant School. The position of the school was dire. Mrs Mitchell listed the equipment,

6 Royal Readers No. 3

6 Royal Readers No 2

6 Royal Readers No 1

12 Royal Primer Books, being in a very bad state

6 slates

Arithmetic Book

Box of chalks. 

It is no wonder that several children were withdrawn and sent to the new Board School at Oystermouth. At his last visit of the year Mr. Binns made it clear the school would receive no grant at all due to the number of registered days falling below the minimum. The condition of the school building also concerned him as the stove did not work, leaving the schoolroom unheated, and the 'out offices' had been demolished and needed to be rebuilt without delay. He finished his report, "If the managers are desirous of obtaining a grant for the current school year they should lose no time in securing the services of a Certified teacher and in providing suitable offices." New toilet accommodation was built, but although Mrs. Mitchell sat her certification examination at the end of 1880, she failed it, and continued to be referred to as an ex-pupil teacher.

It is at this time that Francis Ridley Havergal's  name appeared in the log book. At the beginning of November 1878 she visited the freezing cold school and "brought a patent mineral by which the children warmed their hands." She visited on a number of occasions, staying to instruct the children on scripture. Maria Havergal wrote in her book 'Memorials of Francis Ridley Havergal', "In the village school her frequent visits and bright words won the deepest love. To encourage them to learn God's word perfectly, she offered a new Bible to every child who would repeat the 53rd chapter of Isaiah. Good Friday was the day fixed but she was ill then. A few days after, she was delighted with the perfect repetition by many of the children; and though she would not excuse a single mistake, she gave some another trial. I was often struck with the pains she took with very little children, so really making the gospel story glad news to them." Her last visit was on May 23rd when she "asked the children a few questions on Scripture and explained the Ascension." Two weeks later she died. Mrs. Mitchell wrote in the log book "Her death will be much lamented by school children, she having taken great interest in their Spiritual welfare. fIfteen of the children have received from her, bibles for learning LIII of Isaiah." On the following Monday morning at 5.40am. "A large number of children met at the schoolroom, marched up to witness the funeral procession of Miss Havergal, where they sung a hymn which Miss Havergal sung about ten minutes before her death. Morning very damp." 

Frances Havergal's sister, who had been living with her, stayed on in the area and took over the role of visiting the children. A fortnight after the funeral procession she visited the schoolchildren and listened to them singing and repeating the quotation from Isaiah. During the following year she would come to take a scripture lesson early in the morning but often found many children had not arrived in time. At Christmas 1881 she treated the boys and the Infant girls to a dinner in the schoolroom and gave them a bun and an apple each, while the older girls went to Mrs. Mainwaring's house, Newton Villa, for tea. Maria's final visit to the school was in May 1882 when she called to say goodbye and reminded them of a text that her sister had taught them.

Without a grant the school was dependent upon the generosity of local families. In June 1880 Miss Young brought a fresh supply of needlework and gave six copybooks, Three bottles of ink, six pen holders and some pencils. Earlier she had given pictures for the walls. In August Mrs. Dryden gave a dozen copybooks, a dozen slates, a box of pencils and bottles of ink. [Add Mr. Leyshon] In Add 1882 Mrs. Mitchell resorted to using her own money to buy a dozen slates and a box of 22 pencils while Miss Young gave her 2/6d. toward buying slates for the infants. She bought another dozen slates for 3/6d. and a box of pens and a dozen penholders for 1/1d. 

At the end of the year a total of forty five reading books were bought, ranging from infants to Standard V. The next year Miss Strick gave nine New Testaments, a Bible and some other books. 1884 saw a fund 20 raising concert in the schoolroom  and the vicar bought two Standard VI readers and four more for Standard IV, a sign that the children were achieving more and confirming the inspector's reports that things were improving with regard to discipline and education. Money was always short. Such donations kept the school going throughout the rest of the 1880s. 

A special fund raising event on March 14th 890, was a Magic Lantern show, which was very well attended and raised £1. 10s for the school funds. At some time money was raised by mortgaging the premises, the yearly repayment of £3. 15s. being recorded in the 1890s until the last £150 was paid off in November 1895.

At this time all children were expected to pay a small sum every week toward their education, but this was difficult for some families. Edith and Maria Mortimer, who had earlier left the school to be admitted to an orphanage, returned when Miss Young promised to pay their school fees. In April 1888 Willie Mock was sent home twice for his school money. The second time he brought 2d. instead of 8d. As he had been absent a number of times the school board officer was sent to his home and it transpired that the lack of fees was not due to poverty but to truancy, his mother had given him the money. After a repetition of this behaviour, 

Willie was transferred to Oystermouth Board School, a much bigger school with a well qualified head master, as his parents were threatened with a summons due to his thirty absences. The school board officer was appointed when education became compulsory at the end of the 1870s and he was required to investigate cases of persistent absence. A year after chasing Willie Mock he was back in Newton issuing a summons to Elizabeth John, Lewis's parents regarding her very irregular attendance. Jesse Rosser was summoned in April 1892 and was only too happy to leave school that June, having had his 13th birthday, the earliest school leaving date. 

Obtaining regular attendance had always been a problem, more so in earlier days, although children would still be kept off school for certain tasks such as seeing to the donkeys during the tourist season. Mrs. Mitchell commented in August 1879 that most of the bigger children were out helping to gather in the hay, planting and harvesting potatoes and a week later there was still only one Standard IV 35 child present. The other great problem was with illness. The usual childhood illnesses, diphtheria, scarlet fever, measles, German measles and chickenpox featured regularly and meant that children could be absent for long periods as the following examples show. Willie and Mary Hixson were kept at home very ill with scarlet fever and Elizabeth Hixson was absent for ten weeks, most probably with the same complaint. Lily Hixson was absent with bronchitis for two months in the winter of 1891/2 and was then away again a month later. The log book records "She is a very delicate child." Another delicate child was Christie Tucker who also had long periods of illness and was unable to walk to school from Langland Road after his parents moved there. Jane Lewis was taken very ill with inflammation on the lungs in March 1890, while Gladstone Childs was dangerously ill with an unspecified complaint.  

On 26 October 1888 Thomas, Jane and Mary Ann Williams were kept at home because their brother had died. The deaths of pupils are also recorded. David Tucker died from scarlet fever and Margaret Howells died of smallpox during the 1860s. Mary Ann Parry died  Febuary 13-15th 1871  and Arthur Hixson in July 1st 1887. 

There was also a treat in the schoolroom at Christmas time hosted by a variety of local people over the years. On January 1st 1886 the log book records, "Captain Holme and ether family invited all the children from the village to tea in the schoolroom. The ladies during the afternoon decorated a Christmas tree which was heavily loaded with presents. About hundred and twenty took tea and each child received a present. The younger ones received in addition to their presents, an orange and a packet of sweets." A report in the Cambrian newspaper also mentioned that the older children chose their presents from an assortment of useful and fancy things laid out for them. Miss Holmes had been coming to the school every week to take the needlework class. At Christmas 1887, the treat was provided by Mrs. Mainwaring,  followed  by a magic lantern show and  prizes for good attendance. 

In 1890 a new management committee was set up to oversee both Oystermouth and Newton National schools and at their second meeting they decided that it was time they appointed a certificated teacher for Newton school to replace Mrs. Mitchell in order to earn a grant from the government. In the New Year they placed an advertisement in the Schoolmaster and the Church Times for a teacher. At the March meeting they appointed Miss Ellen Howard at a salary of £50 per annum plus a quarter of the grant. Mrs. Mitchell was transferred to Oystermouth as an assistant mistress at a salary of £20 per annum with the continued use of the Newton schoolhouse which faced the road with the schoolroom behind it, as Miss Howard did not wish to live there. However, she decided to give up the house and was allowed an extra £6 a year for doing so.

With the appointment of Miss Howard, the government grant was restored and she became a stabilising influence on the school which she ruled for thirty three years.

Miss Howard took up her new post on April 6th 1891 and that same day wrote in the log book "Found there was no blackboard, paper, pencils, pens or ink in the school and that the reading books and slates were in a bad state really unfit to use." The next day she complained, "I found that the children are very unpunctual. Very few are in their places before ten o'clock. Several have come in today after the closing of the registers." On both these matters she took immediate action. She set off to visit the families of all the absent children to ascertain why they were not in school and she wrote out a list of things required for the school to give to Rev W. B. Monger, the curate of Oystermouth. The management committee approved an outlay of £3 on necessary goods for the school and at the beginning of May Miss Howard received

1 jar of ink

2 dozen exercise books

1 box of chalk

1 box of steel pens

1 gross of pen holders

2 dozen slates

6 primers

6 Infant readers

1 dozen Graduated readers. Standard 2

1 dozen Geographical readers. Standard 1

The previous week she had received materials for the girls' needlework and knitting classes,

1 yard of calico

2 packets of sewing needles

3 reels of cotton

6 sets of knitting pins

2oz. of knitting cotton

Gradually attendance improved from an average of 40 children a week to 55 children out of a roll of 61. Time keeping also improved and on the day of the school inspection at the end of 1891 all the children were in their places by nine o'clock. The inspector was pleased with the children's instruction saying that it had materially improved at all points. Miss Howard was complimented year after year on her management of the school and the children's attainment.