AOSA CENTENARY HISTORY 1841 - 1941
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Contents
Chapter I
Chapter II
Chapter III
Chapter IV
Chapter V
Chapter VI
Chapter VII
Chapter VIII
Chapter IX
Chapter X
Chapter XI
Chapter XII
Chapter XIII
Appendix
The first or upper class answered questions intelligently and spelled creditably. ‘The grammar class displayed a useful knowledge of English grammar’ and the ‘geography was very satisfactory.’ In arithmetic the boys ‘answered readily a variety of questions.’ They repeated many passages of scripture and answered also a ‘variety of questions’, and although the time allowed for scripture ‘was short and some important points were therefore not touched upon, yet, it appeared to me that they knew much more than was elicited from them. The manner in which George Dixon put the questions and the boys answered them indicated that this important part of instruction was conducted in a right spirit.’
In addition to the annual General Meeting inspection and examination, the Committee had another method by which it considered the establishment of the work of its hands. Every half-year the members of the Committee held a private and more thorough examination of the children’s progress, and a drastic performance it generally proved to be. The first of these inquests was held on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, 25th and 26th December 1843. Women’s committee and men’s committee separately examined boys and girls in reading, writing, spelling, grammar, geography, scripture. Needlework was added to the girls’ list. Friends took minute pains. They noted that in writing the pen was often taken off at the bottom or turning of the letter and that letters were not always connected; indeed the minute book records examples of the reprehensible appearance of dislocated pot-hooks. Reading they found to be monotonous, but spelling of three-syllabled words was good. The scripture examination began on Christmas Day and continued ‘until the time of the children retiring to rest.’ The next day saw it resumed when they tested ‘the boys knowledge of the truths of the new testament and their bearing on the principles and testimonies of Friends.’ They suggested that ‘a profitable reading of the works of Tuke, Gurney and Bates, bearing on all our Testimonies might be usefully informing to the boys and girls. The diffidence of the latter prevented our acquaintance with those attainments which we understood they possessed.’
At another Committee examination Friends noted
that the girls’ ‘attention was maintained and much animation
was displayed,’ they commented on the ‘healthy appearance
and orderly demeanour’ of both girls and boys, and finally reported
in their minute that ‘the committee of women Friends having now
joined us and (as auditors) the female scholars, the whole boys’ school
were minutely examined as to their knowledge of the Holy Scriptures,’ and
the Committee were interested and pleased ‘to witness their very
general, accurate acquaintance with the meaning and application of
particular passages as well as their solid deportment whilst under
this part of the examination.’ The warning in George Dixon’s
eyes and their own awe of the weighty and sober assembly of committee
Friends before them were sufficient to maintain this solidity even
under the quizzing glances of their feminine scholastic auditors, whose
private knowledge of them embarrassed the examinees as it rejoiced
the listening girls.
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