School Log Book 1876 02 Extracts from September 1876 to May 1877
Sept 1st
Work during the week has carried on much as usual.
Fanny Ward from the 3rd Class Standard has been engaged since July 31st as a monitor for the Infants
at a salary of 1 shilling per week. She has proved so far a very good girl and a great help to the
Assistant Mistress, Miss MJ King.
Visitors; Mr Bath and Rev Bilby of Street and a Mr Maunder from Gloucestershire
The average number for the week – 107
Sept 15th
Work has gone as usual.
The IV Standard causes me considerable anxiety; their work does not progress as satisfactorily as I
could wish. There are a few bright exceptions as L Gauge and a few others, but taken together I am
afraid they will do very poorly at the rapidly approaching Government Inspection. The prime cause
of it all is the irregular attendance. Many who will make the prescribed number of attendances will
have done so in such a desultory manner that their acquirement will be absolutely nil.
Attendance is again bad, the Average – 108
Again, no visitors.
Oct 9th
Mr Bond came to see the Master.
I had to refuse admittance to a lad from St John’s. This raises the number refused to about twenty.
Oct 20th
A boy, William Phillips, was dismissed from School, on account of insubordination. He stoutly refuses
to do his work.
The attendance has fallen off considerably this week on account of illness – bronchitis. The Infants
seem to suffer most.
Visitors: The Misses Austin
Average Number – 96
Oct 25th
Several children have been found out in a yard stealing apples. They all confessed their guilt. I
pointed out to them the error and cautioned them for the future.
Oct 27th
School work has gone on as usual. A quiet week.
The attendance of the Infants is still very poor. Some deaths have occurred in families to which many
of the children belong.
The Average number – 91
Visitors: The Misses Austin, and Mr and Miss Stead
Nov 3rd
The attendance has been a little better this week amongst the Infants.
The weather has been somewhat severe and I have got some coal in readiness to light the fires
should the state of the weather continue.
Average Number – 99
Visitor Miss Stead, who came to see Mr Cozens, Miss Bath and party
Nov 8th
Fires were lighted today for the first time, the cold being intense.
Nov 9th
Miss Bath came to see the Master
Nov 10th
The attendance has reached its usual numbers, owing to the return of several scholars who have
been kept from school in order to assist their parents in their agricultural pursuits.
Visitor today – The Vicar
Average Number – 107
1877
Jan 5th
The new act of parliament giving power to Town Councils to enforce the attendance of children at
school came into force on 1st. Many old and some new scholars have in consequence been admitted.
I have this week for the first time deviated from the Timetable, in order to give more attention to
the especially weak subjects of the several classes.
I have added another class register, having for this year seven instead of six as throughout last year.
The improved attendance owes its origin to the authority of the new Act of Parliament.
Visitors: Miss Holman
Average 121
March 2nd
An order which I gave the Scholastic Trading Company of Bristol has been duly attended to and the
goods arrived yesterday. Amongst other things, I may mention maps of Europe, the British Isles and
the Peninsula of Sinai, the new former being Nelson and the latter the SGCH’s (??).
The attendance has been much better than last week.
Average Number 135
March 9th
Nothing particular to record. The fourth to sixth standards are making way with their history and
seem to like the study of this subject, much better than that of Grammar.
The Geography of Europe promises insufficient difficulty to keep us working hard till the return of
Her Majesty’s Inspector.
The wind comes in with great force when the back door leading to the playgrounds and closets is
opened. The map illustrating the Acts of the Apostles has been slightly injured from this cause.
The Vicar brought some Bibles to be given away as prizes for proficiency in Scripture Knowledge. He
also brought some hymn books for the use of the Choir Boys and children generally.
The attendance has not been so good as last week. Average number - 131
Visitor: Rev. Allnutt
May 4th
Some fresh children have been admitted this week and fortunately they promise to do credit to the
school should they remain. The Heal family have just come to live in the town and are exceedingly
neat and clean.
The attendance has been better again, this owing partly to the admission of fresh scholars and to the
interference of the Attendance Officer, Mr R Fear.
The ladies of the town held their monthly meeting here on Tuesday at 12.30p.m. Miss Holman and
Miss Bath were in time to see the children dismissed.
The elastic of two children in the infant room having been taken from their hats, their mother, Mrs.
Hunt, kept them home on Thursday afternoon and the whole of Friday. She spoke in a very rude and
coarse manner to the assistant mistress, whom I told to take no further notice of her or the matter
until the children returned to school. In all probability the elastic may have been torn out by the
children themselves.
Average number 140. This is the highest average we have yet had. No visitors.
May 6th
Alfred Hann, pupil teacher, absent this morning suffering from inflammation in the eyes. This is now
the third time that he has been absent from school duties through indisposition. The first leave, two
days, through a bilious attack, the second half a day on account of a bad foot, the third as above.
May 7th
A H Hann is I suppose no better as he is not here and I have not received any message from him.
May 9th
A H Hann is still too ill to be at his post. I am led to presume, as he is not here and I have received no
message.
The weather is somewhat lowering and can account for the poor attendance which is only 73.
May 10th
A H Hann is still absent. No message. Today being Ascension Day the school, with the exception of a
few of the youngest, attended St. Benedict’s Church in the morning. In the afternoon school went
on as usual.
Mrs. Allnutt came to see Mr. Cozens and provided a little darning for some of the most advanced
girls. She stayed to see the school dismissed and expressed herself very pleased with all she saw.
May 11th
Samuel Gillard, Class 3 Standard 3 has been absent since Monday having been hired by Mr. Geo.
Down to pick weeds for James Austin Esq.
The Pupil Teacher is still too ill to attend I suppose. No further message has been sent.
The attendance is a little better than it usually is on Friday mornings.
The children hope that as there is a Circus in the town, they will be treated to see it as they were on
the last occasion. The school has been dismissed without anyone coming forward to do so.
Mr. J. Merrick and Mr. Joseph Day with the Master shared between them the expense of the
admission of the school. They were rung together and marched to the field. The performance was
good and the youngsters thoroughly appreciated it.