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Extracts from the Auchterhouse School Board
Minutes 1873-1895
Numbers of children
1873
There were 165 children between the ages of
5 and 13 in the parish - 90 boys and 75 girls.
141 of them attended school (79 boys, 62 girls) However, 24 were
not attending (11 boys, 13 girls)
1874
Nine children were not attending school. An
officer was instructed to call and request attendance or proceedings
would be taken against them.
In 1888
there were 110 pupils on the role.
In 1892
there were 99 on the school role
Auchterhouse Female Public School-
16 March 1875
"We are disappointed with the appearance
made by this little school. The number of failures is
very great especially in arithmetic. The general intelligence
and meaning of words are only fair and the Higher Subjects
are weak generally.
The school is altogether unnecessary and unsuitable. The
building is inferior in every way and badly ventilated.
The situation is very
unsuitable and apparently unhealthy. The
offices are very inconveniently situated and there is
no playground obtainable. Adequate accommodation ought
to be at once provided in the principal School distant
about 50 yards and all the staff properly organised with
a proper division of labour set to work there.
The Board must at once bestir themselves
and make sufficient provision for the education in the
Parish."
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Auchterhouse Public School
"This school made on the whole a very
creditable appearance, considering that the staff is not sufficient
for the numbers. The penmanship is worthy of mention as being very
good."
The School Board immediately made plans to
extend the Public School to incorporate Female School.
JAMES SPENCE late Schoolmaster
here died 7 August 1813 Aged 59
His mind was active and capacious,
deeply imbued with knowledge ornamental to himself, and
highly useful to society. He was a pleasant companion,
a warm friend, an honest man and a sincere Christian.
He discharged the duties of his office with skill, temper
and fidelity. He regulated the passions, expanded the
intellects, and improved the hearts of those under his
tuition. This monument is erected by his grateful pupils.
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Behaviour
In 1886 a member of the School Board complained
of:
| "the boys at Auchterhouse
using abusive and foul language to visitors and others greatly
to the annoyance of the people and the discredit of the district."
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This was supported by Mr Valentine, Mansion House
who suggested the proportion of pauper children was in excess of
those in the Parish and therefore proving detrimental to the morals
of the natives and the amenity of the village as a summer resort.
School Board
They were elected for 3 years. Responsibilities
included: Appointment of teachers, prosecution of parents for not
sending their children to school, carrying out repairs to the school,
carrying out changes the School Inspectors suggested/demanded.
Who was on the School Board?
Here is a list of members of the Board in
1888.
| William Cochrane |
tailor |
Kirkton of Auchterhouse |
| Alexander Jamieson |
farmer
|
Kirkton of Auchterhouse |
| Alexander McKay Jun. |
farmer |
East Mains |
| James Playfair |
landed proprietor |
Eastfield |
| William Sturrock |
farmer |
Burnhead |
| Andrew Whitton |
landed proprietor |
Couston |
School Fees
1873 School fees were as follows:
| Reading |
10d per month |
| Reading/writing |
1s 2d |
| Reading/writing/arithmetic |
1s 6d |
| Reading/writing/arithmetic grammar and geography |
1s 8d |
In 1885 school fees were reduced
| Infants |
8d |
| Standard I |
10d |
| Standard II |
1s |
| Standard III |
1s 2d |
| Standard IV - VI |
1s 4d |
Children were charged 1s each a year for coal for
the classroom and 1d per month for pen and ink.
Staff Salaries
1873 Mr Robertson, Schoolmaster had a salary of
£50 annually. He also received £3.3s for collecting the school rate,
which was set at £120 for the parish of Auchterhouse, plus some
of the school fees.
Mr Robertson's salary was raised to £65 in lieu
of the reduction in school fees.
No fees were charged after October 1889. This meant
a difference of £44 to Mr Robertson which was made up to him in
an increase in salary.
There were still fees for Standard VI pupils.
Female Teachers
In 1873 Miss Forrest
received £15 annually as teacher of the Female School. When she
resigned on Dec 27 1873 the following advert appeared in the Dundee
Courier on Monday 29th and Friday 2nd January 1876:
| "Wanted, a Certified Teacher for the Female
School, Auchterhouse. Salary £15 with school fees and Government
grant: also dwelling house and garden. Applications with certificates
to be lodged with the Rev. Mr Lyall Chairman of the School
Board on or before 17 January 1874. The Teacher will be required
to enter on her duties immediately after the Government Inspection
in February." |
There were only two applicants. The post was advertised
again at a salary of not less than £60. Miss Mills was appointed
in February 1874.
Miss Mills resigned Dec 1875. The new teacher was
to be under the supervision of the Teacher of the Public School.
A salary of £45 was at first advertised but no one applied so it
was raised to £60 with the result that there were 14 applicants
from whom a Miss Hay, Aberdeen, was appointed.
The former Female schoolhouse was fitted up as
a dwelling house for the female teacher.
A bad working relationship
Arrangements for putting the Female teacher under
supervision of Public School teacher Mr Robertson did not work well.
There were professional disagreements between them.
The School Board planned to make two separate schools
within one building. Mr Robertson wrote to them offering
| "To waive my right
as master of the whole school and allow her to conduct her
department as she thinks proper, the Board alone to take cognisance
of any matter arising . This I do in the interests of peace."
|
Despite this relations between Miss Hay and Mr
Robertson remained cool and she resigned in August 1881.
There were 52 applicants for the job at £50 and
Miss Scott was appointed Female
teacher.
| Miss Forrest |
1873 |
| Miss Mills |
1873-75 |
| Miss Hay |
1875-81 |
| Miss Scott |
1881-94 |
| Miss Mitchel |
1894-99 |
| Miss Banks |
1899-1904 |
| Miss Lowden |
1904-1912 |
| Miss Murray |
1912-? |
Tragic month for Mr Robertson,
headmaster
On 19 November 1890, it was noted
in the School log book that the school had been closed since 13
November owing to the death of the teacher's only son, John.
26 November 1890 - school closed owing
to the death of Elizabeth, the master's elder daughter.
6 July 1900 - School closed owing
to the death this morning, of the master's only surviving daughter,
Jeanie.
Bun
feast
27 January 1893 - buns
and organges were distributed among the scholars on the occasion
of the master's completion of twenty five years service in
this school. |
| 22
June 1897
Holiday in honour of the Queen
and the completion of the sixtieth year of her reign. Medals
in the form of a Maltese Cross were distributed to the scholars
in honour of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, and intimation
given that they would be entertained at a picnic on the
hill tomorrow afternoon. |
| Mr
and Mrs Willsher entertained the scholars to tea and lantern
views (by Mr Feathers, Dundee). Mr William Walker, Avenue
Cottage, was also present with his gramaphone. |
Searching for former pupils?
A database of pupils attending Auchterhouse
School between 1872-1900 has been compiled. If you wish to see whether
a particular individual attended the school please email Linda
Caston with the details of your request.
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