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 1st March 1871
Present Revd H Stevens Chairman
Revd 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 24th 1871 for the purpose of receiving the tenders for the enlargement of the National schools
Present Revd 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 3rd of May 1871
Present Revd 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 10th April last, and to the answer of my Lords on the 15th 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 3rd 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 17th the notice of retirement of Harriett Heath was altered from the 3rd to the 17 June. H. Stevens
At a special meeting of the committee of management held at the Vestry Rooms on Saturday June 24th 1871
Present S L L Lucas
Col Hay
Messrs Goodwin
R Fremlin
Revd 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 13th 1871
Present Revd 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 29th 1871
Present Revd 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 Revd Henry Stevens
S L L Lucas
Revd Robt Earle
Mr Gibbon
Goodwin
Chas Leney
R Fremlin
Resolved that the following persons form the committee of management for the ensuing year
S L L Lucas
Revd 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 govt 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 Revd 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 23rd at 11o’clock
At an adjourned meeting held on Tuesday April 23rd 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 Thos Lawrence, at the rent of £15 per annum from the 24th 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 10th of May
Present Revd 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 1st 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 1st 1873
Present Revd H Stevens
Revd 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
Revd 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 Novr 13 1873
Present Revd Henry Stevens
Messrs Goodwin
R Fremlin
Allwork
Newington
Dray
S L L Lucas
Resolved that owing to Mr Freeman bad attack of derangement wh 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 Revd H Stevens
Capt 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 Govt 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 5th of March 1874
Present Revd 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