Boys School Log (1863-1874)

Post date: Apr 13, 2016 3:13:30 PM

There follows notes taken from the Boys School log for the above period. These are more selective so far than for the later periods and reflect a focus on summer months. Also see the School minutes for 1864-1870 and School minutes for 1871-1874). The school log illustrates the following themes in particular:

Wateringbury Regatta was sufficiently important to warrant a whole or half day holiday (see Topic Rowing).
disruption to school caused by soft fruit ("curranting") and other agricultural activities outside main hopping season and resultant school holiday (usually starting late August or early September).
School treats in Wateringbury Place and elsewhere.
Disruption caused by "Clubs " at village pubs.

1867

August 21^st : Wateringbury Regatta holiday all day.

September 6^th:Registers not marked in the afternoon. School dismissed for 5weeks and 2 days holiday.

1868

July 8^th : School treat at Mr. Brown’s. Children assembled for school for two hours in the morning. 66 present at the treat.

15^th Club at Queen’s Head. Few in morning about 40 in afternoon. Registers not marked.

August 10^th: Numbers low this morning: some away hop-picking.

11^th:heavy storm about 9 o’clock. About 20 present.

12^thCommenced long division of money with standard IV.

20^th School less than yesterday – some of farmers commenced hopping.

21^st: Dismissed for 5 weeks holiday.

1869

July 8^th:Half-holiday. The masters of the Malling Deanery School Teachers Association meet at theRev. W.J. Cobb’s at Nettlestead.

15^th: School treat at Wateringbury Place.

August 4^th Wateringbury Regatta. Half Holiday in the afternoon.

16^th : Punished several boys for bad behaviour in church yesterday.

September 3: Hopping commenced. Many away in the morning. Dismissed the school at 12 o’clock for 5 weeks holiday

1870 :

July 28^th: School treat at Wateringbury Place.

29: Holiday

August 3^rd: Wateringbury Regatta-half holiday.

19^{th :}15 boys away hop-picking

22^nd: Punished 4 boys for not coming to church yesterday morning and some for throwing at and stealing Mr. Allworks plums. Mr. A came afterwards to speak about it.

26^th School dismissed for 5 weeks holiday.

December 23: Holiday. School treat given by the Rev, H. Stevens and Christmas Tree given by Mrs. Paterson. 14 of the most regular boys during the year received a prize ( book) from the Rev. H. Stevens. School dismissed for a week’s holiday.

1871

August 9 Wateringbury Regatta holiday in the afternoon.

14^th: F. Cripps absent- got into trouble on Saturday for stealing a rabbit. Punished John & James May for truanting nearly all last week.

15^th: John May sent to prioson for three days for stealing straps.

18^th Rev. H. Stevens visited in the afternoon.

22^nd: James May’s sister brought him to school. I quite despire of doing him any good. Not yet seven and yet always truanting as his brothers Rich & John did before him.

Sep 1^st: School dismissed for 5 weeks holiday.

1872

June 10^th: North Pole Club-only 30 present in the morning.

13^th School treat holiday all day.

July 8^th: F.King returned to school after 8 week absence (School 1 boy)-helping his father charcoal burning.

24^th: Odd Fellows Club. 31 present in the morning. 20 in afternoon.

30^th: James May a little boy in the 4^th Class died yesterday inflammation of the chest. Many boys now troubled with bad coughs,

August 12^th: Attendance not good. Some away harvesting some with hooping cough.

14^th: 19 boys present in the morning. Registers not marked. Holiday in the afternoon Wateringbury Regatta.

26^th Wet morning. Only 22present . Some talk of hopping commencing this week. If so a poor attendance expected.

29^th August: 22 present in the morning. School dismissed in the afternoon for 5 weeks holiday

1873

April 7^th: 8 boys away at work in hop-gardens. 5 of them under 10 years of age. Away at most important time

May 13^th: Noticed that 22 are absent many work with their mothers hop tying.

May 19^th: Attendance miserably bad: only 22 present in the morning 18 in the afternoon ^¾of the school absent. Hop tying, baby minding and wire worm catching the chief excuses. Much more irregular this year than in former ones.

May 30^th: School dismissed for a week’s holiday

June 9^th: Attendance not good. Club at North Pole.

July 7^th: Only 25 present. All the absent boys engaged in some outdoor employment or looking after babies while mother at work.

August 1^st: Odd Fellows Club only 12 present in the afternoon.

6^th: attendance better today than for some weeks past-fruit picking and other work requiring children over.

13^th Wateringbury Regatta holiday in the afternoon.

28^th School dismissed for 5 weeks holiday. Treat to take place tomorrow the 29^th.

1874

July 13^th: No present 37, Several away curranting.

15^th: The attendance was small owing to a club at Mereworth. Several boys during the dinner time went bathing in the river, punished them for leaving the playground without permission and forbid bathing without permission.

21^st:Eleven of the boys did not go home to tea, but took them to Teston to play a match of cricket.

27^th: James Hodges and two Lancasters asked leave to go Harvesting

28^th:Mr. Leeds the Relieving Officer called and gave notice that the Guardians of the Malling Union had resolved to pay the School Fees of those children receiving Parish Relief.

29^th This day was the annual Flower Show in the village so gave the boys a holiday in the afternoon.

August 5^th: The attendance was somewhat lessened by a treat given to Mr. Leney’s workmen and several of the boys were absent with their fathers.

6^th In the afternoon the boys played the return match of cricket with the Teston boys in Mr. Lucas’ Park

14^th : The school was not opened today. In the morning prepared the flags etc. And in the afternoon the children had their annual treat given by Mrs. Lucas in her beautiful grounds.

24^th In the afternoon the boys had a holiday because of a cricket match between the school club and Yalding Grammar School.