School minutes (1855-60): no crinoline or hooped petticoats

Post date: Mar 10, 2013 2:12:6 PM

These minutes of the committee of management of the national and infants schools of Wateringbury, the equivalent of what we would know as the school governors, follow on from those for 1852-1854.

Summary. 1855-59 seem uneventful years for the school: a study in 1855 of the possibility of boarding seems to have gone nowhere. 1856 sees the master and mistress' (Joshua and Jane Allen, appointed December 1851) joint salary raised to £80 p.a. 1857 sees the salary of the Infants school mistress increased to £25 p.a. ( see also school christmastree1857) and in 1858 it was decided that the master and mistress's salary should be supplemented by 50% of the capitation grant. In 1859 the first reference to scholars certificates and a written report (not, unfortunately, detailed in minutes) from the Ladies is made on the girls' and infants schools.

In 1860 tensions were evidently on the increase as in March that year a special committee formally reprimanded the master and mistress for their unauthorised private use of the school rooms which was considered a great disrespect to the vicar. The infant mistress received an increase of salary to £30 p.a. but not the master and mistress. Standards were obviously considered to be slipping as the mistress was ordered to read out an injunction against girls wearing crinoline or hooped petticoats, but still the scandal of the following year is unexpected.

1855

At the quarterly meeting of the committee of Management held at the school residence on Wednesday Feb^y 7 1855

Present : Rev^d Henry Stevens in the Chair

Rev^d Rob^t Earle

Lt. Col Champain

S L Lancaster Lucas Esq

Resolved that the articles required by the Master be purchased.

That Mr. Hodge send in to the Rev^d Henry Stevens a specification estimate for boarding the boys school.

Henry Stevens Chairman

At the quarterly meeting of the committee of Management held at the school residence on Wednesday May 2^nd 1855

Present : Rev^d Henry Stevens

Lt. Col Champain

Mr Goodwin

Resolved that the articles required for the schools be purchased.

Henry Stevens Chairman

At the quarterly meeting of the committee of Management held at the school residence on Wednesday Aug^t 1^st 1855

Present : Rev^d Henry Stevens

Lt. Col Champain

Resolved that the books etc required for the use of the schools be purchased

That the iron railing be painted

That a shelter be made over the kitchen door.

Henry Stevens Chairman

There was no meeting of the committee of management in the month of November.

1856

At the quarterly meeting of the committee of Management held at the school residence on Wednesday February 6th 1856

Present : Rev^d Henry Stevens, Chairman

S L Lucas Esq

Lt Col Champain

Mr Goodwin

The Treasurers account having been passed

Resolved that a gratuity of five pounds be granted to the Master & Mistress for the year 1855 and that their joint salary be raised to £80 per annum for the future

That the articles required for the schools be ordered.

Henry Stevens Chairman

At the quarterly meeting of the committee of Management held at the school residence on Wednesday May 6th 1856

Present : Rev^d Henry Stevens, Chairman

Lt Col Champain

Rev^d R Earle

Mr Goodwin

Resolved that the articles required for the use of the schools be purchased.

Henry Stevens Chairman

At the quarterly meeting of the committee of Management held at the school residence on Wednesday Aug^t 6th 1856

Present : Rev^d Henry Stevens,

Mr Goodwin

Resolved that the articles required for the use of the schools, viz 2 bibles with marginal references 2 doz copies of bibles for schools, 2 sets of geographical subjects , I large head, 1 round, 1 small copy slips be purchased.

Henry Stevens Chairman

At the quarterly meeting of the committee of Management held at the school residence on Wednesday Aug^t 6th 1856

Present: Rev^d Henry Stevens,

Resolved that the articles required be ordered for the schools.

Henry Stevens Chairman

At the annual Meeting of the subscribers to the national and infant schools, held at the school residence on Wednesday Dec^r 31 1856

Present : Rev^d Henry Stevens,

Mr Goodwin

The treasurers accounts having been examined & passed

Resolved that the following subscribers form the committee for the ensuing year : S L L Lucas Esq., Messrs Goodwin, Allwork, Rev^d R Earle Rev Henry Stevens

That the quarterly meetings of the committee for the ensuing year be held at the School house on the first Wednesday in the months of February, May, August & November.

Henry Stevens Chairman

1857

At the quarterly meeting of the committee of Management held at the school residence on Wednesday May 6th 1857

Present: Rev^d Henry Stevens,

Resolved that the followed articles be ordered for the use of the schools 25 copies of the Parables, 25 copies Historical Questions, 20- copies of Child’s first book part 2, Pence register for Infant School, also 6 easy reading aids, 2 doz Child’s first book part1.

Henry Stevens Chairman

At the quarterly meeting of the committee of Management held at the school residence on Wednesday May 6th 1857

Present:

[ in a different hand] very heavy rain

At the quarterly meeting of the committee of Management held at the school residence on Wednesday Nov 4th 1857

Present: Rev^d Henry Stevens,

That the following articles be ordered for the use of the school ??? Catechism 24, Collect Books small size 24, spelling aids 6 sets, rain water butt.

Henry Stevens Chairman

At the annual Meeting of the subscribers to the national and infant schools, held at the school residence on Wednesday Dec^r 30 1857

Present : Rev^d Henry Stevens,

Mr Edward Goodwin Rev^d R Earle

The treasurers accounts having been examined & passed

Resolved that the following subscribers form the committee for the ensuing year: S L L Lucas Esq., Rev^d R Earle, Messrs Goodwin & Spencer, Rev Henry Stevens

That the quarterly meetings be held on the usual days

That the salary of the infant mistress be raised to £25 per annum.

Henry Stevens Chairman

1858

At the quarterly meeting held at the school residence on Wednesday May 5th 1858

Present : Rev^d Henry Stevens,

Resolved that the follow^g articles be ordered for the use of the national schools 2 doz slates 8 in X 6, 4 doz 9x7, 2 boxes of pens, ????, 1 quille of ruled foolscap for teacher, ½ ream of note paper, blotting paper

Mr Allen desires to give notice that he shall make application for an advance on salary at the annual meeting in December.

Henry Stevens Chairman

At the quarterly meeting of the committee of Management held at the school residence on Wednesday August 11 1858

Present : Rev^d Henry Stevens,

Wm Brown, Esq.,

The ordinary business of the meeting having been transacted , it was adjourned to the next quarterly meeting.

Henry Stevens Chairman

At the quarterly meeting of the committee of Management held at the school residence on Wednesday Nov 10 1858

Present : Rev^d Henry Stevens,

Resolved that the following articles for the use of the schools 4 doz Copy books ruled for exercises, 4 doz ???, 1 gallon of ??? , 3 doz Geography of England & Wales, 3 doz ??? of English Grammar, 3 doz collects.

Henry Stevens Chairman

At the annual Meeting of the subscribers to the national and infant schools, held at the school residence on Wednesday Dec^r 31 1858

Present : Rev^d Henry Stevens,

W Brown Esq.,

Mr Goodwin

The collection not having brought in the remainder of the subscriptions the passing of the Treasurers account was deferred till the next meeting

Resolved that the following subscribers together with vicar form the committee for the ensuing year: S L L Lucas Esq., W Brown Esq., J Steele Esq., Rev^d R Earle, Mr Goodwin

That the quarterly meetings be held on the usual days

That an addition be made to the salary of the Master and Mistress of the national school of 50 per cent of the capitation grant.

Henry Stevens Chairman

1859

At the quarterly meeting of the committee of Management held at the school residence on Wednesday Feb^y 16 1859

Present : Rev^d Henry Stevens

Rev^d R Earle

J. Steele Esq.,

The treasurers account having been examined and passed

Resolved that the articles required for the Boys & Girls school be ordered.

Henry Stevens Chairman

At the quarterly meeting of the committee of Management held at the school residence on Monday Aug^t 1st 1859

Present : Rev^d Henry Stevens

Mr Goodwin

The Ladies report of the work in the girls and infant school was read.

Two scholars certificates have been granted to John Ongley & Thomas Hill

Henry Stevens Chairman

At the quarterly meeting of the committee of Management held at the school residence on Monday Nov 2 1859

Present : Rev^d Henry Stevens

Rev^d Robert Earle

Resolved that the articles required for the infant School be obtained viz. 1 doz slates, ball of string & packet of pencils.

Henry Stevens Chairman

At the annual Meeting of the subscribers to the national and infant schools, held at the school residence on Wednesday Dec^r 31st 1859

Present : Rev^d Henry Stevens,

Mr Goodwin

Rev^d Rob^t Earle

The treasurers accounts having been examined and found correct

Resolved that the following subscribers form the committee for the ensuing year: S L L Lucas Esq., W Brown Esq., Rev^d R Earle, Col. Gibson, Mr Goodwin & Mr Eversfield together with the vicar.

That the quarterly meetings be held on the usual days.

Henry Stevens

1860

At a special meeting of the committee of management held at the vicarage on Wednesday March 28^th 1860.

Present : Rev^d Henry Stevens,

William Brown Esq.,

Rev^d Rob^t Earle

Mr Edw^d Goodwin

S L L Lucas Esq

Resolved that the school committee having learnt that the Master and Mistress of the National Schools used the schoolrooms for their private purposes on the 16^th of March without the consent of the vicar, they be informed that they cannot be allowed to use the schoolrooms for any other purpose than that of teaching children of the Parish without first asking the vicar’s permission.

The committee cannot separate without expressing their strong disapproval of the great want of respect shown to the clergyman of the parish on this occasion.

That the secretary communicate the above resolutions to the Master and Mistress.

Henry Stevens Chairman

William Brown

Robert Earle

E J Goodwin

Sam^l Lancaster Lucas

At the quarterly meeting of the committee of Management held at the school residence on Monday May 2 1860

Present : Rev^d Henry Stevens

Mr Goodwin

There being no particular business the meeting was adjourned to the next quarterly meeting

Henry Stevens Chairman

At the quarterly meeting of the committee of Management held at the school residence on Monday Aug^t 1^st 1860

Present : Rev^d Henry Stevens

Mr E Goodwin

Two scholars certificates were signed. There being no particular business the meeting was adjourned to the next quarterly meeting.

Henry Stevens Chairman

At the quarterly meeting of the committee of Management held at the school residence on Monday Nov 7 1860

Present: Rev^d Henry Stevens

Rev^d R Earle

Ordered 50 of no 407 for further use of the schools.

Henry Stevens Chairman

At the annual Meeting of the subscribers to the national and infant schools, held at the school residence on Wednesday Dec^r 31st 1860

Present : Rev^d Henry Stevens,

W^m Brown Esq.

Rev^d Rob^t Earle

The treasurers accounts having been examined and found correct

Resolved that a gratuity of five pounds be given to the Infant mistress and that her salary be raised to £30 per annum for the future.

That the following subscribers form the committee for the ensuing year: S L L Lucas Esq., W Brown Esq., Rev^d R Earle, J. Steele, Esq, Mr Goodwin, Mr F Leney.

That upon the strong representation of the Ladies Committee of the clothing club, the girls of the national school be not permitted to wear crinoline or hooped petticoats¹. That this resolution be put into effect on Monday Jany 7 and that the Mistress be desired to read this resolution to the children to enforce its being carried out.

Henry Stevens Chairman

Notes:

1. By 1860 crinoline- basically a conical hoped petticoat distended- had had become the established female style nationally, until replaced by the bustle or 'dress improver' at the end of the 1860s (See The Mid-Victorian Generation 1846-1886 by K. Theodore Hoppen page 349).