School Log Book 1876
January 28th
The Schools were opened this week for work and the Master, WG Cozens – from Cheltenham
Training College, commenced duties with 45 children on the first day. On Friday the books contained
90.
The children are very rough and unruly, and wholly undisciplined. The bell is at present a great
source of annoyance by its being rung at unsuitable times both before and after School hours.
Stones too are being constantly thrown at it.
The children have little regard for truth. Many lie unblushingly. A manly spirit is wanted amongst
them. When detected is a fault such tries to throw the blame on another.
I have been obliged to punish one boy, Charles Pearce, for repeated insolence and irreverent
behaviour during prayer time.
The numbers for this week are 77
February 4th
The School has considerably advanced in numbers and order. Defiance of my authority is gradually
subsiding. The two most obstinate characters are Charles Pearce and Frank Marsh. The former has
received another flogging for impertinence and for inciting the same amongst his fellows during my
temporary absence in the classroom, fighting swearing, biting and kicking are common things
amongst the younger children. Those most notorious are George Phillips, John Clark, John Sandford
and William Townsend.
The visitors to the schools this week were Mr Allnutt, the Vicar, who kindly brought some verses
prettily illuminated for the infants to learn, Miss Roberts, Mrs Brookes, Mr Bath and Mr Mogg.
The numbers for this week are 102
February 11th
The School has again increased in numbers and has also much advanced in order. The classification is
now I think complete. We have had several singing lessons much to the delight of the children who
are very anxious to learn.
The arithmetic of the upper children is very weak in the way of tables. Many who are doing
compound Rules, being unable to say the Multiplication Table.
The writing of the upper children is also very bad, especially in the writing of copies. Many would if
let alone write three or four copies in the course of half an hour – without the slightest attempt at
neatness.
The writing is one copy at different places above the line and not down to the line. This has much
improved.
I have taught a little drill, which has materially assisted in maintaining order amongst the classes.
The visitors this week have been Rev J Ross, Vicar of St John’s, Mrs Austin, Mr Bath and Mr Allnutt,
the Vicar of St Benedict’s.
The numbers for the week are 109
February 18th
The numbers have again increased. The children are beginning to conform themselves to the rules of
the School, and give but very little trouble. They have yet to learn that ‘silence’ means cessation and
merely the absence of noise. The infants are in many cases very dirty in person and in habits. Many
mothers seem to think the Infant School a place where they may send their babies to be out of their
way during the day.
Many infants or rather babies have been refused admittance on account of their not being the
prescribed age.
The only visitor this week has been the Vicar, the Rev Allnutt.
The numbers are 114
February 23rd
A flagrant breach of the School Rules has recurred today. When the bell was rung for assembling at 2
o’clock several of the biggest boys stayed out in the playground in order that they might annoy some
of the girls who were in the Infant School – one who is a monitor will forfeit his place for some time
until he has shown himself to be steadier.
February 25th
This has been a somewhat uneventful week, there being nothing worthy of record.
The visitors have been E Bath Esq., the Rev Thos York and party.
The numbers for the week are 108
March 3rd
The School this week has gone on much as usual. The children are daily becoming more teachable
and obedient. Those who formerly gave so much trouble have now become the best children in the
School. The girls of the III Standard are making marked progress in all branches of their work but
especially in Writing and Reading.
The window curtains have been put up this week, which makes our work on sunny days much easier.
The visitors this week have been The Vicar and Miss E Gould.
An Assistant Mistress has this week been engaged, a Miss MJ King from St Michael’s School, Bristol.
The numbers were 109
March 10th
A quiet week with nothing worthy of record. Home lessons are now regularly given and are heartily
taken up by children and parents. It is a source of pleasure to the parents of many children to give
assistance to their children in the preparation of these lessons. Nor is this confined to the parents
alone – the older brothers and sisters who have left school for years help many a backward little one
along in the path of learning which they had so long ago.
Miss King will commence duty on Monday next.
The visitors were The Vicar, Mrs Masters, Miss Masters and Mrs Hicks.
The numbers for the week are 112.
March 17th
This has on the whole a quiet week. The school still makes progress in discipline. The physical
geography lessons are very much appreciated by the children – as are also the lessons in grammar.
Miss King the new mistress for the infants commenced her work this week and seems likely to carry
it on in an efficient manner.
Alfred Hann the monitor has been finally engaged this week. The school staff having been now
finally settled the school will, I trust, make rapid strides in the path of advancement and knowledge.
The sewing of the girls shows marked improvement. Many can sew most beautifully. Amelia Chislett
and her sister Emily are at present the best in this respect.
The visitors this week have been the Misses Austin and E Bath Esq
The numbers this week are 100
March 24th
This has been a quiet week. I have spent a great deal of time in attending to the Arithmetic of the
different classes. All seem to be going on satisfactorily. The IV Standard will finish Multiplication
today and will commence Division nest week.
The First Standard seems to be backward in every subject. The pupil teacher however works with
them very carefully and diligently.
The weather has been unusually severe during the last few days, and many children especially the
infants have been unable to attend. Many children too have been persuaded from coming to school
by colds.
There have been no visitors this week.
The numbers are 99
March 31st
The school work has been going on much as usual.
Mrs Austin has kindly provided some materials for the girls’ sewing this week.
The Vicar has again visited us and took the First to the Fourth classes in Religious Knowledge.
HM Inspector Mr Lindsell has been to inspect the Schools. He took the measurements of the rooms,
also the number of children present and the number on the books. I believe the number given him
on the books was incorrect.
The numbers are 99.
April 7th
A quiet week. The attendance has been very thin on account of many children having been engaged
in helping their parents and others in their gardening operations. This week commences the Second
Schools Quarter. The III Standard is making marked progress in the Geography of England – and also
in their Arithmetic. I have been shocked to find that swearing is not yet eradicated from amongst the
children – I caught today an infant, five years of age, throwing stones at another in the schoolyard
and swearing with a fluency in one so young.
No visitors this week.
The numbers are 93
April 10th
The weather today has been so wet that this afternoon attendance has been nearly halved – there
were but 6 girls in my school.
April 13th
The attendance has again been very poor. Most of the children absent are employed in potato
planting and other work of the garden. We break up today for the Easter holiday – a week, exclusive
of Good Friday.
No visitors this week.
The number (av) has been 92
May 4th
A very poor school this afternoon, only 48, in time for the registers. Several came just as they were
closed.
Tom Maul, Joseph Harries, Albert Carter are again employed by Mr Austin in packing stones.
May 5th
Attendance considerably fallen off again this week and especially today. The same boys mentioned
above are still employed by Mr Austin.
The total average for this week is 115
May 10th
The boys Maul, Harries and Carter are still employed by Mr Austin and consequently kept from
school. A very poor school this afternoon, only 55 in time for the registers. Two boys punished for
playing truant, Henry Bond and John Chasey. The latter had to be fetched to school by the pupil
teacher. Chasey comes from Hillhead.
May 11th
I have been endeavouring to get the exact ages of the children, but have met with much difficulty in
so doing, many parents having only a very dim idea of the birthdays of their children. One mother
from Hillhead returns this message ‘Tell Mr Cozens to mind his own business, the age of my boy
(John Mills) is mine’.
May 12th
The attendance has been slightly less this week. The children are still engaged in the work of the
garden. Mr Austin still employs the children mentioned above.
June 9th
The weather has been very fine during the week, but most unfavourable for the children’s
attendance. A large number have been kept away to attend the gardening operations of their
parents and others. Whit Monday caused a great fall off in the attendance which is usually so good
on Mondays. I was necessitated to give holiday in the afternoon, so few children presented
themselves.
June 27th
I am sorry to record that I have today observed an act of undue familiarity on the part of one of the
biggest lads towards one of the girls. I trust it will not recur again. The lad is open-hearted and
sensible of his error.