School minutes (1871-1874): head taken to asylum.

Post date: Mar 15, 2013 9:18:57 PM

The following continues a series of transcripts of the minute book of The Wateringbury National and Infant Schools held in Kent Archives (reference CKS P385/25/4). The previous minutes are at School minutes (1864-1870). After 1874 a new minute book must have been opened but I have as yet to locate.

National backgound: 1870 Education Act ordained that a school should be placed in reach of every child and in 1880 attendance became compulsory. The Church of England opposed and obstructed the provision of new school buildings for the school boards.

Summary:In 1871 a tenders for the enlargement of the school accepted from Mr Dray in sum of £120. There was concern that it was needed to temporarily appoint a uncertificated teacher to Infants School, but Miss E. Foreman was appointed permanently in December 1871 at £40 p.a. In 1872 she is appointed mistress of girl's school £35 p.a. plus half the government grant plus the provision of a house, owned by Mr Allwork, in Bow Road costing the committee £15 p.a. to hire. In 1873 the master, Mr Freeman becomes deranged, is taken to the asylum and as it is not felt he will recover a new appointment, George Wilson, a recent graduate of Culham College (in 1852 Samuel Wilberforce, Bishop of Oxford, founded the Diocesan Training College for Schoolmasters of that name) paying him £70 p.a. and half the government grant.

See also School headcount (1872).

In 1875 the national annual average salary of a male certified teacher was £109 and £65 for a female certified teacher.

1871

At the annual meeting of the subscribers to the National & Infant Schools held at the school House on Wednesday 1^st March 1871

Present Rev^d H Stevens Chairman

Rev^d R Earle

Messrs Goodwin

R Fremlin

Boorman

Resolved, that the following persons form the committee of management of the National Schools for the ensuing year

S L L Lucas

Col Hay

Rev R Earle

Messrs Fry

Goodwin

R Fremlin

H White

Gibbon with the vicar

Of which number three shall form a quorum

That Mr E J Goodwin be appointed auditor of the accounts for the past year

That the quarterly meetings be held on the first Wednesday in May, August, November and February

That Messrs Boorman, Dray & Hodge be invited to tender for the work of enlarging the Wateringbury schools & that each be informed that he must employ a separate bricklayer.

Henry Stevens Chairman

At a special meeting held at the vicarage on Monday April 24^th 1871 for the purpose of receiving the tenders for the enlargement of the National schools

Present Rev^d Henry Stevens

Col Hay

Mr Goodwin

Mr Fry

Resolved that the estimate of Mr J Dray for the enlargement of Wateringbury National schools be accepted £120.

That Col Hay be requested to overlook and inspect the work on behalf of the committee.

Henry Stevens Chairman

At the quarterly meeting of the committee of management held at the vicarage on Wednesday the 3^rd of May 1871

Present Rev^d Henry Stevens

Mr Goodwin

Colonel Hay

Resolved, that the Secretary inform their Lordships that the Committee of Management of the Wateringbury Schools are prepared to appoint Mrs Freeman (uncertificated) wife of Mr Freeman their Master, to superintend the Infant school until Xmas when they hope to have their late Pupil Teacher, who leaves college then, as certificated mistress.

They beg on this point to refer my Lords to the Letter of the Revd H Stevens on the 10^th April last, and to the answer of my Lords on the 15^th to the same.

That, owing to the directions of the Privy Council as to the Infant School Mistress, the services of Harriett Heath, will not be required after the 3^rd of June 1871.

Henry Stevens, Vicar & Chairman

[postscript]

N. B. The report and answer to the above letter to the Privy Council not having been received till Wednesday May the 17^th the notice of retirement of Harriett Heath was altered from the 3^rd to the 17 June. H. Stevens

At a special meeting of the committee of management held at the Vestry Rooms on Saturday June 24^th 1871

Present S L L Lucas

Col Hay

Messrs Goodwin

R Fremlin

Rev^d H Stevens

Resolved that this meeting be adjourned until further notice that after Mr Bulmers Report upon the painting of the schools the Committee decline taking any further steps in the matter

Henry Stevens Chairman

At a meeting of the Committee of management held at the vicarage on Thursday July 13^th 1871

Present Rev^d H Stevens chairman

Mr Goodwin

Resolved that Mr Drays tender for the addition to the infant school be accepted, the amount for the same being £?????

Henry Stevens Chairman

Colonel Hay agreed to the above resolutions.

At a special meeting of the committee of management held at the vicarage on Friday Dec 29^th 1871

Present Rev^d H Stevens

Col Hay

S L L Lucas

Resolved that Miss E Foreman be appointed Infant Mistress to Wateringbury Schools at the salary of £40 per annum on signing the usual agreement to give or accept three months notice, in order to terminate her engagement

Henry Stevens Chairman

[there follows signed termination agreements from Emily Foreman dated 7 February 1872 as mistress of Infants School; and dated Sept 30 1872 by Mary Barnwell as assistant Mistress].

1872

At the Annual meeting of the subscribers to the National & Infant schools held at the school House on Saturday 2d March 1872

Present Rev^d Henry Stevens

S L L Lucas

Rev^d Rob^t Earle

Mr Gibbon

Goodwin

Cha^s Leney

R Fremlin

Resolved that the following persons form the committee of management for the ensuing year

S L L Lucas

Rev^d R Earle

Messrs Goodwin

R Fremlin

C Leney

Dray

Allwork

Fry

Capt Bary with the vicar of the parish.

That Mr E Goodwin be appointed Auditor of the accounts for the past year

That the quarterly meetings be held on the first Wednesday in May, August, November and February.

That Mr R Fremlin & Mr Chas Leney together with the vicar be the names appointed for receiving the government grant

That Miss Tilly receive the gov^t Grant for the Girls school.

That the fire insurance be increased to £700.

Henry Stevens Chairman

At a special meeting of the committee of management held at the vicarage on Wednesday April 17 1872

Present Rev^d H Stevens

Revd R Earle

Messrs R Fremlin

Dray

Allworth

Goodwin

Resolved that the resignation of Miss Tilly be accepted

That this meeting be adjourned till Tuesday April the 23^rd at 11o’clock

At an adjourned meeting held on Tuesday April 23^rd at the vicarage

Present Revd H Stevens

Messrs Goodwin

R Fremlin

Allwork

Dray

Resolved that Miss E Foreman be elected mistress of the Girls school at the salary of £35 per annum and half of the government grant to the Girls School and the use of Mr Allwork’s house.

That the committee agree to hire Mr Allwork’s house situated in Bow Road and late in the occupation of Mr Tho^s Lawrence, at the rent of £15 per annum from the 24^th June 1872, the hiring to be terminable by either part on giving three notice, such notice expiring on quarter day.

That the committee pay all rates & taxes except Landlord’s Property tax & land tax.

Henry Stevens Chairman

At a special meeting held at the vicarage on Saturday the 10^th of May

Present Rev^d H Stevens

Messrs Goodwin

Allwork

Resolved, that Miss Mary Barnwell be appointed Assistant Mistress to the schools at the salary of £25 per annum and of £5 lodging money, her duties to commence on the 1^st of July 1872 the duties of Miss E Foreman to commence at the same time.

Henry Stevens Chairman

1873

At the Annual meeting of the subscribers to the National & Infant schools held at the vicarage on Saturday March 1^st 1873

Present Rev^d H Stevens

Rev^d R Earle

Messrs Goodwin

Allwork

Dray

Newington

Resolved that the following persons form the committee of management for the ensuing year three of whom shall constitute a quorum

S L L Lucas

H White

Rev^d R Earle A Spencer

Messrs Goodwin Capt Bury

F Leney H Allwork

W Jude Newington

R Fremlin Dray

W Fry

C Leney

With the vicar of the parish

That E Goodwin be appointed Auditor of the accounts for the past year.

That Mr Allwork & Mr Newington together with the vicar be the names appointed for the receiving the Govt grant

Henry Stevens Chairman

At a special meeting of the committee of management held at the vicarage on Thursday Nov^r 13 1873

Present Rev^d Henry Stevens

Messrs Goodwin

R Fremlin

Allwork

Newington

Dray

S L L Lucas

Resolved that owing to Mr Freeman bad attack of derangement w^h has compelled his being taken to the asylum & will, in the committee’s view , render his again undertaking the mastership of Wateringbury School inadvisable ; another master either temporary either temporary or permanent be sought for & obtained for the situation.

Resolved that £5 due to Mr J Freeman for the balance of his gross salary due to Dec 1873 which last sum the committee presents to him in consideration of the unfortunate circumstances of the case, be paid to his wife & father, they giving an undertaking that no claim shall be made agt the committee in the event of Mr Freeman’s recovery.

Henry Stevens Chairman

At a special meeting held at the vicarage on Thursday Nov 27, 1873

Present Rev^d H Stevens

Cap^t Bary

Messrs Goodwin

Dray

S L Lucas

Resolved that Mr George Wilson, student of Culham College, Oxon, be appointed master of the Boys school at the salary of £70 per annum & half the Gov^t grant , his duties will be also to teach in the Sunday school when required, and in the evening school in winter.

That Mr Geo Wilson give 3 months notice to the committee of management in case he desires to relinquish the situation of master of the Wateringbury National school , and that he receive 3 months notice to quit the said situation from the committee of management.

[certificate of termination notice signed by George Wilson dated March 2 1874]

1874

At the Annual Meeting of the subscribers to the National & Infants Schools held at the vicarage on Thursday 5^th of March 1874

Present Rev^d Henry Stevens

Messrs Goodwin

Newington

Resolved, that the following persons form the committee of management for the ensuing year, three of whom shall constitute a quorum

S L L Lucas Capt Bary

Revd R Earle H Allwork

E Goodwin W Newington

F Leney J Dray

W Jude Revd H Stevens

C Leney

J W Fry

H White

That Mr H Allwork be appointed Auditor of the Accounts for the past year

That Henry Stevens, Henry Allwork and Wm Newington be the names appointed for receiving the Government grant.

That Miss Mary Barnwell be paid 1/3 of the government grant received this year for the Infant School.

That the master having complained of the inefficiency of James Snell as Monitor , the committee feel it their duty to request Mr Wilson to inform the parents of J Snell that his services as monitor will not be required after the end of the present quarter, viz, the last day of March 1874.

Henry Stevens Chairman