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 21st : Wateringbury Regatta holiday all day.
September 6th:Registers not marked in the afternoon. School dismissed for 5weeks and 2 days holiday.
1868
July 8th : School treat at Mr. Brown’s. Children assembled for school for two hours in the morning. 66 present at the treat.
15th Club at Queen’s Head. Few in morning about 40 in afternoon. Registers not marked.
August 10th: Numbers low this morning: some away hop-picking.
11th:heavy storm about 9 o’clock. About 20 present.
12th Commenced long division of money with standard IV.
20th School less than yesterday – some of farmers commenced hopping.
21st: Dismissed for 5 weeks holiday.
1869
July 8th:Half-holiday. The masters of the Malling Deanery School Teachers Association meet at theRev. W.J. Cobb’s at Nettlestead.
15th: School treat at Wateringbury Place.
August 4th Wateringbury Regatta. Half Holiday in the afternoon.
16th : 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 28th: School treat at Wateringbury Place.
29: Holiday
August 3rd: Wateringbury Regatta-half holiday.
19th :15 boys away hop-picking
22nd: 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.
26th 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.
14th: F. Cripps absent- got into trouble on Saturday for stealing a rabbit. Punished John & James May for truanting nearly all last week.
15th: John May sent to prioson for three days for stealing straps.
18th Rev. H. Stevens visited in the afternoon.
22nd: 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 1st: School dismissed for 5 weeks holiday.
1872
June 10th: North Pole Club-only 30 present in the morning.
13th School treat holiday all day.
July 8th: F.King returned to school after 8 week absence (School 1 boy)-helping his father charcoal burning.
24th: Odd Fellows Club. 31 present in the morning. 20 in afternoon.
30th: James May a little boy in the 4th Class died yesterday inflammation of the chest. Many boys now troubled with bad coughs,
August 12th: Attendance not good. Some away harvesting some with hooping cough.
14th: 19 boys present in the morning. Registers not marked. Holiday in the afternoon Wateringbury Regatta.
26th Wet morning. Only 22present . Some talk of hopping commencing this week. If so a poor attendance expected.
29th August: 22 present in the morning. School dismissed in the afternoon for 5 weeks holiday
1873
April 7th: 8 boys away at work in hop-gardens. 5 of them under 10 years of age. Away at most important time
May 13th: Noticed that 22 are absent many work with their mothers hop tying.
May 19th: Attendance miserably bad: only 22 present in the morning 18 in the afternoon ¾ of the school absent. Hop tying, baby minding and wire worm catching the chief excuses. Much more irregular this year than in former ones.
May 30th: School dismissed for a week’s holiday
June 9th: Attendance not good. Club at North Pole.
July 7th: Only 25 present. All the absent boys engaged in some outdoor employment or looking after babies while mother at work.
August 1st: Odd Fellows Club only 12 present in the afternoon.
6th: attendance better today than for some weeks past-fruit picking and other work requiring children over.
13th Wateringbury Regatta holiday in the afternoon.
28th School dismissed for 5 weeks holiday. Treat to take place tomorrow the 29th.
1874
July 13th: No present 37, Several away curranting.
15th: 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.
21st:Eleven of the boys did not go home to tea, but took them to Teston to play a match of cricket.
27th: James Hodges and two Lancasters asked leave to go Harvesting
28th: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.
29th This day was the annual Flower Show in the village so gave the boys a holiday in the afternoon.
August 5th: The attendance was somewhat lessened by a treat given to Mr. Leney’s workmen and several of the boys were absent with their fathers.
6th In the afternoon the boys played the return match of cricket with the Teston boys in Mr. Lucas’ Park
14th : 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.
24th In the afternoon the boys had a holiday because of a cricket match between the school club and Yalding Grammar School.