AOSA CENTENARY HISTORY 1841 - 1941
page thirty-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
They advised that boys and girls should be drilled separately, that no music should be used ‘at present', and that two or more of the staff should themselves be taught by Mr. Cartwright of Middlesbrough. They asked for tenders for a building fifty to sixty feet long, twenty-five feet wide and of a sufficient height for gymnastic apparatus, and they suggested that ‘the floor of the gymnasium should be laid with at least 12" of tan.’ They received tenders in 1889 ; a wooden building on a stone foundation was to cost ,£155, a stone building ran to another £100. They chose a site on a piece of ground adjoining the swimming bath.
But by the end of 1889 the Committee decided to defer erection for the time being. Another subject had come before them-the question of a laboratory for scientific work, and they appreciated that gymnasium and laboratory could be united in a single scheme, which would provide a fitting jubilee memorial. Accordingly Committee friends and old scholars nominated by the youthful Old Scholars’ Association constituted a special committee for the specific purposes of suggestions and collections.
They finally decided on a laboratory, a lecture room and a gymnasium as a suitable recognition of the school’s half-century. These buildings were to be placed along the coachroad with entrances from the boys’ playground.
The Committee issued appeals ; they obtained plans and estimates ; they collected money ; but building was delayed. The jubilee General Meeting had passed when the Old Scholars’ Association roused itself to action. The secretary, Charles de Vit, wrote that ‘it was generally understood amongst old scholars that whatever was decided to be built would be commenced in the jubilee year’ Several letters, he said, had asked how the work was progressing ‘and some unreasonable ones what had become of their money’ He respectfully urged the Committee to start as soon as conveniently possible and reminded them that old scholars had contributed liberally to the building fund.
The plans had assumed an outlay of about £1,200, but the committee had declined to go forward until the larger part of the sum was in sight. A further appeal brought in the necessary £250. The work proceeded. Trees and shrubs along the coachroad and in the shrubbery were felled and uprooted. Substantial stone buildings replaced them. The children saw rising the tiered lecture room, the exciting laboratory, the solid gymnasium ; and all were in use by 1892.
The women’s committee kept a maternal eye on the girls’ side. In 1869 they procured `twelve to fifteen single beds’ for some of the double ones the girls had hitherto used, and got mattresses for them at 6s. 6d., ‘from T. Bowes of Stockton’ These barely stood up to hard use for in the next lot Ralph Dixon was instructed to get ' a better quality of ticking at 1s. each extra’ Counterpanes, t00, were got for the girls’ new beds, and ten pairs of blankets ‘for the new smaller beds for girls instead of double ones’ the superintendent being instructed to order those of ‘“super” quality price 22½ d. per lb.’
They watched clothing as well and at their instance the Committee ruled that ‘parents of children admitted at the highest rate' should provide ‘suitable clothing for them during their continuance at school’ Boys other than these were at that time provided with ‘cord trousers, cloth jackets and vests’ at 21 s. 6d. the suit,’ the said cloth to be shrunk before being made up.’ At the request of the women’s committee, the Committee ordered, mainly for girls’ repairs, eighty yards of pink print, fifty of grey calico, fifty of white, twenty of ‘Harding' (for aprons), eight dozen boys’ handkerchiefs, six gross of metal buttons, one gross of ‘linen do’, one gross large linen buttons, one pound of drab thread, three packets of frame tape and needles-sizes six, seven, eight and nine.
After one of their house inspections in 1877, they noticed that the forty-five boys were using between them five roller towels ‘and though these are replaced by clean ones in the middle of each week it is thought unsuitable for so many boys to use the same towels’, so they suggested ‘that each boy should have a towel for himself’ Those who were not aghast at their own boldness wondered why it had taken them and their predecessors thirty-six years to see the plain fault and to provide the simple remedy.
The Committee’s attitude towards day scholars did not encourage them unduly. They, though not anxious for them, were ‘willing to accommodate the children of Friends from the village provided the attendance is regular and punctual and that in no case should the charge be under 6d. a week for each child.’
They maintained, however, a Quakerly conservatism about music. When, in 1879, the parents of Kate Chadwick at school wanted her to have music lessons in the village in order for her to qualify as a governess, the monthly Committee `feeling that the case may become a precedent' deferred it to the quarterly Committee. The quarterly Committee in due time decided that ‘it would not be to the advantage of the School to make way for any of the girls to take such lessons in the village.’ The women’s committee concurred and piano-playing was banned. By 1887 more liberal views prevailed for in that year the Committee agreed ‘that stand-room be found for a piano which A. M. Salter proposes to obtain for the use of the girls who are learning music’ and she was allowed to make a small charge for the use of the instrument. But the day of the music-mistress had not yet arrived.
This period saw, too, the first change in the Committee’s secretary. Isaac Sharp as ‘sec. pro tem.’ signed the original statement issued by the conference after the Quarterly Meeting in tenth month 1840, which proposed the foundation of the school. He had been sole secretary until 1876 when William Jones, who had been acting-secretary for the previous three years while Isaac Sharp had been away on his travels was formally made joint secretary. Isaac Sharp had attended the meetings of the Committee with the most scrupulous regularity ; he had written nearly every word of the records of their proceedings for thirty-six years with his own hand ; he had taken a lively share in the running of the school.
When the Committee met in November 1877 they noted that it was their first meeting since the departure of their dear Friend Isaac Sharp ' upon his extensive engagement in the Southern Hemisphere', and they desired to place on record their ' appreciation of his long and valued services and deep interest in this Institution from its foundation to the present time.’ Their heartfelt desire, further, was that he might ‘be favoured to return to his native land in the blessing of health and be enabled to resume once more his place amongst them.
One other event without parallel marked this
period. On the seventh of ninth month 1875 only one member of the Committee
attended the arranged meeting. This was J. B. Hodgkin, who duly received
a report from Ralph Dixon about foot-and-mouth disease on the school
farm. As J. B. Hodgkin in his own sole person, however well concerned
and capable, did not constitute a quorum, he decided to make notes
which he handed over with fit remarks to the next Committee which humbly
and thankfully incorporated them in the current minutes.
Return to:
Homepage