School minutes (1845-48): unfounded allegations against school mistress

Post date: Mar 05, 2013 11:28:14 AM

At Kent archives (reference P385/25/4) are the minutes of the Committee of the National Schools. The ones for 1845 to 1848 are transcribed below. See also School Minutes 1844 and School Rules (1843).

Summary: at the end of 1845 the first Master & Mistress were given notice and in February 1846 Willam and Mary Ann Stiles were appointed as Master and Mistress. In June 1846 William Boorman makes "certain charges" against Mary Ann Stiles; the committee examine her and some of the girls and find they have no foundation.

Next year in August 1847 a committee meeting, with a particularly large number of attendees, records: In consideration of the progress the children have made since Mr. & Mrs. Stiles have had the management of the Schools, resolved that an addition of £10 per annum be added to their present salary and the committee beg to express their satisfaction at their conduct since their appointment.

In May 1848 the committee Resolved, that as the Schools were built for the Poor of this Parish, those above that rank should pay 4^d per week for each child’s education. The AGM of December 1848 reveals that an infants school has been set up and the mistress should be paid £15 p.a. A discount is to be allowed for second and subsequent children. Application is made for independent external inspection and Wateringbury's liberal credentials are shown by allowing ladies who subscribe to have the right to vote at AGMs by (male) proxy.

George Newman's recollections "Wateringbury Revisited" edited by Dail Whiting (pages 28-30) give some of his insights on William Stile, who he remembered fondly, despite suffering a severe beating from him on one occasion: "his two strong points were music and calligraphy"; " an essentially firm but kind man"; when he left Wateringbury "appointed to a larger school at Barnet".

Nationally in 1846 a system of certifying teachers was introduced. However teachers were not treated with great respect, one government minister likening the notion of consulting teachers about what should be taught to "asking chickens with which sauce they would be served."

1845

At the quarterly meeting of the Committee of the National Schools held at the school residence on Monday February 3^rd 1845

Present James Woodbridge

Rev^d Henry Stevens

Resolved, that a new writing desk be fixed at the upper end of the Boys school.

Henry Stevens Chairman

At the quarterly meeting of the Committee of the National Schools held at the school residence on Monday May 5th 1845

Present Rev^d Henry Stevens

S. Lancaster Esq.,

There being no business to transact, the meeting was adjourned to the next quarter day

Henry Stevens Chairman

At the quarterly meeting of the Committee of the National Schools held at the school residence on Monday Aug^st 4th 1845

Present Rev^d Henry Stevens

James Woodbridge, Esq.,

Mr. Featherstone

There ordinary business of the meeting being transacted, the meeting was adjourned to the next quarter day.

Henry Stevens Chairman

At the quarterly meeting of the Committee of the National Schools held at the school residence on Monday Nov^r 3rd

Present Rev^d Henry Stevens

Mr. Featherstone

There ordinary business of the meeting being transacted, the meeting was adjourned to the next quarter day.

Henry Stevens Chairman

At the annual meeting of the subscribers to the national schools, held at the School Residence on Monday Dec^r 22^nd 1845.

Present Rev^d Henry Stevens

James Woodbridge, Esq

Messrs J.B. Jude

Featherstone

S.L. Lancaster Esq.,

Mr Perrin

Resolved,

That the following subscribers in addition to the vicar & Churchwardens form the Committee for the year 1846: Mesrs Gould, Langridge, ????, Mills, ??? & Leney

That the meetings of the committee for the ensuing year be held at the School Residence on the 4^th Feb^y, the 5^th of May, the 5^th of Aug^t & the 4th of November 1846 at 3.00 o’clock in the afternoon.

That notice having been given by the Committee to the Master & Mistress to leave the school residence on the 2^nd of Feb^y 1846 & the vicar having advertised in the Ecclesiastical Gazette for fit persons to succeed them, & having several applications, but not accompanied with testimonials,

Resolved that the committee meet on notice from the vicar that he has received such testimonials, to elect a Master & Mistress.

Henry Stevens Chairman

1846

At the quarterly meeting of the National school committee held at the School Residence on Wednesday the 4^th Feb^y 1846.

Present Mr. Woodbridge

No other member of the committee being present , the meeting was by him adjourned to the 5^th of May 1846.

[ note appended to minute book]

We William & Mary Ann Stiles

Agree to quit the School Residence at Wateringbury in the county of Kent at six weeks’ notice from the Committee of the national schools and also to give six weeks’ notice to the said committee in case we desire to give up the situation of Master & Mistress .

Wateringbury

19^th Feb^y 1846

[Signed]William Stiles

Mary Ann Stiles

Witness James Woodbridge

At the quarterly meeting of the National school committee held at the School Residence on Wednesday May 5th.

Present Rev^d Henry Stevens

No other member of the committee being present , the meeting is adjoined adjourned to the next quarterly meeting.

Henry Stevens Chairman

At a special meeting of the committee of the National schools held at the School Residence on Friday June 12^th & called to investigate certain charges made by Mr. William Boorman against the Mistress

Present H. M. Gould

? Langridge

J^as Woodbridge

Rev^d Henry Stevens

Resolved,

That Mr. William Boorman, not having appeared to substantiate his charges against the Mistress of the Schools & the committee having examined the mistress & various girls on the subject have come to the conclusion that there is no foundation for the charges made

James Woodbridge, Chairman

At the quarterly meeting of the National school committee held at the School Residence on Wednesday Aug^t 5^th, 1846

Present Rev^d Henry Stevens

No other member of the committee being present, the meeting was adjourned to the 4^th of November..

Henry Stevens Chairman

At the quarterly meeting of the National school committee held at the School Residence on Wednesday Nov. 4^th, 1846

Present Rev^d Henry Stevens

James Woodbridge, Esq

The ordinary business of the meeting being transacted, it was adjourned to the next quarter day.

Henry Stevens Chairman

At the annual meeting of the subscribers to the national Schools, held at the School Residence on Monday Dec^r 1846

Present The Rev^d Henry Stevens

Messrs Gould

Featherstone

Resolved

That the following subscribers, in addition to the vicar and Churchwardens of the Parish, form the Committee for the year 1847: Messrs Lancaster, White, J B Jude, Allingham, Featherstone.

That the meetings of the committee for the ensuing year be held at the School Residence on Feb^y 3^rd,May 5^th, Aug^t 4^th, & Nov 3 at 3 o’clock.

Resolved that the Treasurer being unavoidably absent, the consideration of the accounts be deferred til the next quarterly meeting.

Henry Stevens Chairman

1847

At the quarterly meeting of the committee of the National schools held at the School Residence on Wednesday the 3^rd Feb^y 1847

Present Mr Woodbridge

Mr White

Mr Featherstone

The Treasurer accounts were examined & found correct & the Girls Work Book showing several sums unpaid for work returned.

Resolved,

That the accounts for the same be sent to the parties & payment requested in accordance with the rules of the National school

James Woodbridge

Thomas White

W^m Featherstone

At the quarterly meeting of the committee of the National schools held at the School Residence on Wednesday May 5^th, 1847

Present Rev^d Henry Stevens

Mr Allingham

The ordinary business of the meeting being transacted, it was adjourned to the next quarter day.

Henry Stevens Chairman

At the quarterly meeting of the committee of the National schools held at the School Residence on Wednesday August 4^th, 1847.

Present Rev^d Henry Stevens

S.L. Lancaster, Esq

J^as Woodbridge, Esq.,

Thos. White Esq.

Mr. Allingham

Mr. W. Featherstone

In consideration of the progress the children have made since Mr. & Mrs. Stiles have had the management of the Schools, resolved that an addition of £10 per annum be added to their present salary and the committee beg to express their satisfaction at their conduct since their appointment.

Henry Stevens Chairman

At the quarterly meeting of the committee of the national schools held at the School residence on Wednesday Nov^r 3^rd 1847

Present Rev^d Henry Stevens

James Woodbridge

Resolved that the bills for books etc. be paid by the Treasurer.

Henry Stevens Chairman

At the annual meeting of the subscribers to the National Schools held at the School Residence on Friday Dec^r 31st 1847

Present Rev^d Henry Stevens

James Woodbridge, Esq.,

Mr. W. Featherstone

The Treasurers accounts having been examined & found correct

Resolved,

That the following subscribers in addition to the Vicar & Churchwardens form the committee for the year 1848: Messrs Mills, ??? Willcocks, Earle, Seath & Ongley.

That the meetings of the committee for the ensuing year be held at the School Residence on Feb^y 2^nd,May 3^rd, Aug^t 2^nd, & Nov 1^st at 3 o’clock.

Henry Stevens Chairman

1848

At the quarterly meeting of the committee of the National Schools held at the School House on Wednesday 2^nd February, 1848

Present Mr. Woodbridge

Mr Ongley

The ordinary business of the meeting being transacted, it was adjourned to the next quarter day.

James Woodbridge Chairman

At the quarterly meeting of the committee of the National Schools held at the School House on Wednesday the third of May, 1848

Present Rev^d Henry Stevens

J^as Woodbridge

Resolved, that as the Schools were built for the Poor of this Parish, those above that rank should pay 4^d per week for each child’s education.

Henry Stevens Chairman

At the quarterly meeting of the committee of the National Schools held at the School House on Wednesday Aug^t 2nd, 1848

Present Rev^d Henry Stevens

The ordinary business of the meeting being transacted, it was adjourned to the next quarter day.

Henry Stevens Chairman

At the quarterly meeting of the committee of the National Schools held at the School House on Wednesday Nov 1st, 1848

Present Rev^d Henry Stevens

Mr. Willcocks

The ordinary business of the meeting being transacted, it was adjourned to the next quarter day.

Henry Stevens Chairman

At the annual meeting of the subscribers to the National Schools held at the School Residence on Friday Dec^r 29th 1848

Present Rev^d Henry Stevens

S. L. Lancaster Esq.,

J^as Woodbridge

Mr W Featherstone

Mr J White

The Treasurers accounts having been examined & found correct

Resolved,

That the following subscribers in addition to the vicar and churchwardens form the committee for the year 1849 : Messrs S L Lancaster, Woodbridge , Langridge, ??? , Faetherstone

That the meetings of the committee for the ensuing year be held at the school Residence on the first Wednesday in the months of Feb^y, May, Aug^t, & Nov^r at three o’clock.

That rule 2 be altered thus –the parents of children in the National schools shall pay twopence a week for one child, & a penny a week for every additional child.

That the infant school be united to the National schools of this parish and that the parents of the children pay in the same ratio as in the National Schools

That application be made to the Committee of Council and Education for the periodical inspection of the Wateringbury Schools and that form no 6 having been duly filled up, be forwarded to the secretary of the said Committee.

That no person subscribing less than 10 ^s per annum shall be eligible to be placed on the committee and that Ladies subscribing to that amount shall possess the right of voting by proxy at the annual Meeting.

That a salary of £15 be granted to the infant school mistress for the year 1849.

Henry Stevens Chairman