School minutes (1861-63): head's indecent conduct.

Post date: Mar 11, 2013 8:41:52 PM

These transcribed minutes of the committee of the Wateringbury National and Infants Schools follow on from those in the same series, School minutes (1855-1860).

Summary: the indecent conduct in February 1861 of the Master, Mr Allen, must have caused great scandal in the village, involving as it did the closing of the schools although Miss Brooker, teacher of the infants school, evidently covered in the girls school before the new Master and Mistress, Mr and Mrs Kendall, came in April 1861.

1862 saw the committee considering whether to petition Parliament over a proposed new code but then decide not to and then increasing the fee for poor children in the infants school to 3d a week (compared to 2d. in the primary schools) , a decision that was reversed in 1864. Children coming from other parishes were evidently still an issue. Following financial difficulties, Samuel Lancaster Lucas of Wateringbury Place disappears after the 15 March 1862 meeting from attendance at meetings and at the end of the year it is decided "That application be made on behalf of the committee to the trustees of the Wateringbury estate for the continuance of Mr Lucas subscription to the national & infants schools." It also decides "That Rule 3 shall be altered thus “Parents of the rank of small farmers & master tradesman shall pay 4 pence a week for each child”.

In 1863 on the resignation of the long standing infants teacher, Miss Brooker, the infants school is put under the control of the national schools mistress and certain building alterations were made to facilitate this at a cost of £35,

The government in its Revised Code of 1862 encouraged teachers to be paid by results. The minister is recorded by Hansard (clxv 13 Feb 1862) as stating in Parliament "If it is not cheap it shall be efficient; if it is not efficient it shall be cheap".

1861

[letter, marked “copy”, attached to minute book]

Wateringbury Vicarage

Feb 21 1861

Sir,

I regret most deeply to state that a charge of indecency of conduct has been preferred against you by Mrs Gilbert the mother of Ellen Gilbert, as having taken place in the pantry adjoining your house in the day previously to her leaving the school, that is to say she has not been there since.

I have consulted Mr Lucas on the subject & by his advice a committee will be held at the vestry of the Church tomorrow Friday at ¼ to 12 to investigate the matter, when you are requested to attend ; & where it is hoped you will be able fully to rebut the charges.

I am yours,

H.S.

Mr Joshua Allen

[Committees met on Feb 22 and Feb 26 and were adjourned]

At an adjourned meeting of the Committee of management of the National schools held on Wednesday Feb^y 27^th 1861

Present S L Lucas, Esq

W Brown, Esq

J Steele Esq

Rev^d R Earle

Rev^d H Stevens

Resolved , that after a most anxious and careful consideration of the coincidence produced before them, in reference to the several charges made against Mr Allen, the committee are of opinion that Mr Allen cannot be acquitted of much impropriety of conduct , and that he ought not to be continued in charge of the Wateringbury School.

Mr Allen & Mrs Gilbert were called in and the resolution read to them. Mr Allen tended his resignation, which was accepted and the schools were ordered to be closed immediately.

Sam^l Lancaster Lucas

Chairman

We Tho Kendall & Mary Kendall agree to give three months notice to the committee of management in case we desire to relinquish the situation of Master & Mistress of Wateringbury National schools, & also to quit the School Residence at three months notice from the said committee of management.

Wateringbury April 12^th 1861

[signed] Tho Kendal

Mary Kendall

Witness Henry Stevens.

At the quarterly meeting of the committee of management held at the vicarage on Wednesday May 1^st 1861

Present Rev^d Henry Stevens Chairman

W Brown Esq

Rev^d R Earle

Mr Goodwin

Resolved that the articles & books required for the schools be ordered.

That the Rev^d Henry Stevens having agreed to give Mr & Mrs Kendall £85 per annum as joint salary, the committee of the schools confirm the above arrangement.

Henry Stevens Chairman

At the quarterly meeting of the committee of management held at the vicarage on Wednesday Aug^t 14 1861

Present Rev^d Henry Stevens Chairman

W Brown Esq

Rev^d R Earle

Mr Goodwin

Resolved that the articles required for thr use of the school be ordered

That £2 9. 6. travelling expenses be paid to Mr & Mrs Kendall.

Henry Stevens Chairman

At the quarterly meeting of the committee of management held at the vicarage on Wednesday Nov 20 1861

Present Rev^d Henry Stevens

Rev^d R Earle

Mr Goodwin

Resolved that a book be procured by the vicar & presented to Miss Brooker in acknowledgement of her services in the girls school during the interval between the leaving of Mr & Mrs Allen & the appointment of Mr & Mrs Kendall.

Henry Stevens Chairman

At the annual meeting of the committee of management held at the vicarage on Tuesday Dec^r 31^st 1861

Present Rev^d Henry Stevens

Mr Goodwin

W Brown Esq

The treasurers accounts having been examined & found correct

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

That the quarterly meetings be held on the usual days.

Henry Stevens, vicar

1862

At the quarterly meeting of the committee of management held at the vicarage on Saturday Feb^y 15 1862

Present Rev^d Henry Stevens

Rev^d R Earle

W Brown, Esq

Resolved that the articles required be ordered

Henry Stevens Chairman

At a special meeting of the committee of management held at the vicarage on Saturday March 15^th 1862 to consider the desirableness of petitioning Parliament on the subject of the modified Revised Code.

Present Rev^d H Stevens Chairman

S L L Lucas

Rev^d R Earle

Mr Goodwin

W Brown, Esq

Resolved that this meeting be adjourned to Saturday March 29^th 1862

At an adjourned meeting held at the vicarage on Saturday March 29^th 1862

Present Rev^d H Stevens Chairman

Mr Goodwin

W Brown, Esq

Resolved that as Government have made important concessions, there be at present no petition forwarded to parliament from the committee of management of these schools ag^t the code of the Privy council.

Henry Stevens Chairman

At the quarterly meeting of the committee of management held at the vicarage on Wednesday Aug^t 6 1862

Present Rev^d Henry Stevens

Mr Goodwin

Resolved, that the parents of poor children in the National schools shall pay 2d. a week for each child; that parents of poor children in the infants school shall pay 3d a week for each child , & that parents living out of the parish shall pay double. These payments to commence after the Michaelmas Holidays.

Henry Stevens Chairman

At the annual meeting of the committee of management held at the vicarage on Wednesday Dec^r 31^st 1862

Present Rev^d Henry Stevens

Mr Goodwin

W Brown Esq

The treasurers accounts having been examined & found correct

Resolved that the following subscribers form the committee for the ensuing year: Mr Brown Esq, Rev^d R Earle, Mr Goodwin, Capt Brenchley and ? Hayman Esq.

That application be made on behalf of the committee to the trustees of the Wateringbury estate for the continuance of Mr Lucas subscription to the national & infants schools.

That Rule 3 shall be altered thus “Parents of the rank of small farmers & master tradesman shall pay 4 pence a week for each child”

Henry Stevens Chairman

1863

At a special meeting of the committee of management held at the school house on Monday March 16 1863 for the purpose of receiving the Infants Mistress resignation & for deciding what plan shall be adopted for carrying on the school.

Present Revd H Stevens

W Brown Esq

Mr Goodwin

Rev^d R Earle

Resolved that in accepting Miss M.A. Brooker’s resignation of her situation as mistress of the infant school the committee desire to record their ??? of the value & faithfulness of her services for a period of nearly twelve years and request that this resolution be communicated to her.

That the infant school be placed under the direction & control of the national school mistress and that she work that school in conjunction with the girl’s school having Elizabeth Jeffrey as assistant teacher with a salary of £25 per annum and P Sharpe as Pupil Teacher provided that funds can be found to make the necessary alterations.

That Mr Clarke be requested to make an estimate & specification for the proposed alterations & additions.

Henry Stevens Chairman

At a meeting of the committee of management held at the vicarage on Monday April 13^th 1863 for the purpose of receiving the builders estimates and deciding upon which shall be selected for the work

Present Rev^d H Stevens

W Brown Esq

The various tenders amounting to Mr Hodges 43 . 0. 0. Mr Boorman £36. 5. 0 Mr Whyman 35. 5. 0. Mr Dray 33.15.0 having been read

Resolved that Mr Dray’s tender of £33.15. 0. be accepted. That notice be given to Mr. Clarke to that effect.

Henry Stevens Chairman

At a meeting of the committee of management held at the School House on Wednesday June 23 1863 for the purpose of considering the subject of Henry Barwell’s resigning his situation as Pupil Teacher & also other matters of importance with regard to the carrying on the schools under the new code.

Present: Revd Henry Stevens

Mr Goodwin

W Brown Esq

Resolved that the consideration of Henry Barwell’s resignation be postponed.

That under the revised code the sum of ninety pounds per annum be paid to Mr & Mrs Kendall as salary & that they be allowed two-fifths of the government grant whatever that may be. That this arrangement is to take effect from 1^st July 1863 that being the period at which the new code comes into operation. The forgoing resolution was communicated to Mr & Mrs Kendall with the request that they w^d signify their decision to the vicar on or before the 30^th June instant.

Henry Stevens Chairman

At the quarterly meeting of the committee of management held at the school house on Monday Aug^t 17 1863

Present Rev^d H Stevens

Resolved that the resignation of Henry Barnwell as pupil teacher be accepted, the said resignation bearing date the 30^th day of June last.

That Mrs Kendall having by letter to the vicar accepted & agreed to the terms of the committee made to them 23^rd June 1863 the same be entered in the secretary’s book.

I Elizabeth Jeffrey agree to give three months notice to the committee of management in case I desire to relinquish the situation of assistant teacher in the girls school of this parish, and also to receive three months notice to quit the said situation from the committee of management.

Wateringbury 17 August 1863

[Signed] Elizabeth Jeffrey

Witness Henry Stevens