AOSA CENTENARY HISTORY 1841 - 1941

page twenty-five

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

Return History
Contents

His year at Flounders provided, as well as a course of study, some slight professional training, though the teaching world did not recognise any need for this. Old methods still suited new men; rule of thumb, trial and error, ultimately corrected the outstanding faults; empiricism smoothed the way; pupils still thrived. Nevertheless when Ralph Dixon returned to Great Ayton in July 1854, he brought with him the prestige of study, the polish of contact with his superiors and equals, and a little wider outlook on the world.

He celebrated his return to Ayton by a fortnight's holiday, and when his apprenticeship ended in March 1856, he began his career as a regular teacher at a salary of £42 a year.

The Committee soon increased this to £60 which was ‘to be augmented to £100 a year from the first of the month following the day of his marriage.’ He was engaged to Elizabeth Fox of Dewsbury, herself a teacher on the girls’ side. The Committee further decided that after his marriage he and his wife should ‘occupy the cottage facing the playground and be answerable for the rent thereof at the rate of £10 per annum.’ In March 1858 they gave him ‘leave of absence for one week during the present month and the like period in 5th Month at the time of his proposed marriage.’

The marriage took place in May 1858, and Ralph and Elizabeth Dixon after their brief honeymoon came to the cottage facing the playground which was to be their home for four years and where they were again to live after his definite appointment as superintendent in 1866. As superintendent his salary was increased first to £180 and then soon to £100 ‘with no other privileges beyond taking the whole or any part of his meals at the Housekeeper's table which the Committee would encourage him to do.’ He had also to pay twelve pounds ten for his house and thirty shillings a year for his garden.

During Ralph Dixon's time as superintendent, which then began, he carried through many useful reforms and advances. Anything spectacular did not become his nature, but steady persistence and solid determination often decided a balanced Committee to take the steps which he thought necessary. The objects he aimed at were obvious when he pointed them out; they unquestionably added to the efficiency of the School and the happiness and welfare of the children; they bore with them no load of debt. These three points became his criteria as he went forward cautiously, steadily, deliberately.

The work of the School during Ralph Dixon's time as superintendent developed normally. On the girls’ side and on the boys’ side, the children worked in three classes. The girls, regularly fewer in numbers than the boys, were taught by a governess and a girls’ apprentice; in default of a suitable apprentice, and an unfailing supply could hardly be expected, a junior mistress was appointed till she should be ousted by a cheaper apprentice.

On the boys’ side, the superintendent took all the Scripture and did much of the teaching of the first class. For the rest the supply of apprentices remained fairly steady but had occasionally to be supplemented by an assistant. In 1866 William Thistlethwaite from Ackworth was appointed at £60 a year, but eight years later, Thomas Moore as second class teacher got only £14. In 1875, no suitable apprentice having developed, another head teacher was needed, and the Committee appointed John Naughton, ‘though a member of the Church of England,’ at £80 a year, raised after a year's service to,£90.

Work began at 6.30 in the morning. The boys’ first class time-table in 1876 ran:

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