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The late Albert Mitchell related his memories of the school
to our society.
"The Headmaster used to look around to see if there were
jobs children could do before school. I had jobs for two weeks
while Sarah, housekeeper to Miss Taylor (of the Corinthians, Warwick
Road) was on holiday. I had to be there by 8am to clean shoes,
cutlery etc., finish at 8.45am, and go straight on to school.
For this I earned 6d/morning. One job I did not like was sharpening
the knives by using bathbrick spread on a board onto which you
rubbed the blade of the knives. I really hated doing that. Some
boys used to help the milkmen before school.
People living in the Flint Green and Sherbourne Road area
would send a note to the school saying that if the Head would
send two of the boys round with a barrow they could have all the
windfall apples - these would then be shared out (but before arriving
back at school with them the lads would hide a few here and there
in the hedgerows along the lane for later collection!)
Every July, a week before breaking up, the two top classes
were taken by train to Stratford upon Avon (c. 1912). For weeks
before the children had to make complete maps of Stratford upon
Avon showing all the streets etc. in order that the pupils would
not get lost. This work had to be shown to the Head before the
tickets were given out. Sandwiches were taken for lunch and then
for tea they went to a café in Wood Street, and this was
followed by the treat of the day - a trip up the river on a steamer.
After this they went home. This was the highlight of the year
and the children worked hard to get into the top two standards
in order to qualify for the trip."
Apart from the detailed logging of absences, inspections and
educational matters, there are some striking features of the logbooks
which merit a mention. In particular the issues of poverty, and
the caretaking and cleaning stand out during this period.
2nd September 1896 A football-club was allowed to meet in
the schools again last night. I have made repeated complaints
to the Correspondent (church representative) about these unruly
youths, as they have smashed several items of furniture.
9th September 1896 The caretaker (Miss Smith) complained
to me that they removed one of the school-registers from my desk,
and tore a part of it off to light their pipes with. It seems
to be their chief amusement to destroy wantonly anything they
can lay their hands on. (Further use was refused by the Vicar
a few days later).
19th October 1896 The boy Percy Keeling aged 12 is engaged
to work by a baker in the Village named Lucas. The Attendance
Officer Mr Reynolds has visited the bakery but failed to convince
the baker that the boy ought to be at school. (That afternoon
the Attendance Officer removed the boy from the bakery).
1st March 1900 I received a telegram from the Stock Exchange
notifying Relief of Ladysmith. During the play-time I marched
the elder scholars to the village and we all cheered for the Queen
and her Soldiers.
25th November 1904 The coldness of the schoolrooms also
causes the children much suffering. \the usual temperature in
cold weather is 40° to 44°. In the Babies Room last week
it was so cold that the thermometer (50° upwards) did not
register.
1st May 1906 Mr Roads, Attendance Officer, has informed
me to-day that he has been instructed to make a special effort
to find all "wandering" children in this district and
send them to this school - He says there are about 20 and practically
all are illiterates - being children of navvies engaged on the
New Railway (the North Warwickshire Line). The teacher
of the bottom class (Std II) will have an arduous task.
12th December 1907 Very heavy rain in the morning. Some
of the children, the first comers, very much wetter than they
need be owing to the peculiar behaviour of the caretaker who allows
no child inside the gates of the school playground until a teacher
comes. The sad sight of a little undersized boy of seven sitting
by the fire, bare-footed, while the teacher dried all that remained
of his boots and stockings led two of his more fortunate class-mates
to offer to bring from home what he needed. At afternoon school
they derived much pleasure from dressing him in the coats and
boots which they brought.
15th January 1908 The state of the playground beggars description.
The Caretaker informs me that the "sweepings" of mud
from the four rooms last night weighed 102 pounds - He also says
that in fetching two hods of coal from the coalhouse he became
"stuck in the mud". (The playground was finally
asphalted in October 1909).
28th May 1908 Miss Gold writes to say that she is suffering
from muscular pleurisy caused by standing in a draught also by
standing too much - H.M.I. Barrington Ward called my attention
a year ago to the fact that no chairs are provided for the teachers
- If chairs were provided I don't see how the teachers could control
their classes - The classes are too large and the furniture too
cumbersome - One another man at least is necessary in this department.
For thirteen years I have had to attend school even when ill as
I am sure the work is beyond any woman of mature age leave alone
young girls - There are 67 boys ranging from 10 to 14 years in
my room.
11th February 1909 I left school at 11.45 to attend the
Police Court. I took with me William Painting aged 13. It appears
he took a tin of pineapple and a bottle of ginger ale from a shop
yesterday dinner-time - He has been remanded to the work house
for seven days.
15th January 1912 Mrs Morgan of Warwick Road Tyseley has
informed me that her children are practically starving. Some time
ago I brought the case to the notice of the Poor Law Authorities
and the Chairman of Managers made investigations.
17th March 1913 Mr Chick visited the schools and offered
20 pairs of boots to the children in need of them - I have accepted
his offer - Mr Chick is acting for the Acocks Green Bohemian Musical
Society which does so much for the poor children at Christmas-tide.
23rd December 1914 At the close of the afternoon, Miss Walker
of Fox Hollies Hall, Mrs Cordley Bradford and the Vicar visited
the school and distributed buns, oranges and sweets among the
infants.
19th January 1915 Whilst walking in the lanes this dinner-hour
I met two of my boys - Carrick and Bell - wheeling a barrowful
of coal - They informed me they had taken it from the school and
were taking it to the Caretaker's house in Spring Lane - I have
seen the Caretaker and she admits using the boys for this purpose.
(Despite this and many other incidents, including one where
she told all the pupils to go home to their mothers, Mrs Bones
was not removed).
27th August 1915 Two loads of coal have been tipped down
at the school gates. The man sent to get it in refuses to do it.
It looks as though the coal will remain there all night, a dangerous
menace to motorists etc. as it stretches half-way across the road.
The boys of the top class and I have volunteered to wheel the
coal in instead of taking the usual thirty minutes drill. Mr Bones,
husband of the caretaker, came to the school at 4.15 and interfered
with my arrangements as stated above. He was abusive and I ordered
him off the premises. As he adopted a threatening attitude, seizing
a shovel, I sent for the police and Mr Stewart School Manager.
22nd February 1916 Mrs Gunnell informs that there was a
sudden explosion in her stove and that her eyebrows were singed
off by the flames - this is due to the use of paraffin oil by
the Caretaker when lighting the stoves…This woman does not
realise the danger neither does she carry out one's instructions.
4th July 1916 Instead of play and nature lesson I am allowing
a few boys in Std 4 to go to a neighbouring hayfield to have a
lesson in haymaking and incidentally to help the farmer. I hope
to-morrow evening to take some boys myself and help to carry the
hay.
12th January 1917 I left school at 4.20 last evening - I
returned again at 5.5pm. The Caretaker had finished her work and
gone home - Unless the floors and furniture receive more attention
there will be an outbreak of a loathsome nature among the scholars
and teachers.
2nd March 1917 Fred Birch Std 4 has not been to school for
3 weeks - I have today communicated direct with the Education
Authority, as I am told he is at work - He is 12 years old.
26th September 1922 (extract from Headmaster's report)
The children come from a very scattered area; none live near.
We are surrounded by large council schools, and our children consist
largely of children whose parents prefer them to be "looked
after" rather than "pushed on".
14th June 1923 The Prince of Wales passed by the schools
this morning - The school staff marshalled the children who gave
H.R.H. a fine reception - The Chairman of Managers, the Correspondent
and the Treasurer were present - The school frontage was suitably
decorated and the scholars provided themselves with flags.
15th April 1924 James Wootten fell in the playground and
injured his leg so badly I had to send him home in a wheel-barrow.
22nd December 1924 The Christmas Tree for infants and Stds
1, 2 and 3 is being held this afternoon - This is the 29th occasion
since I have been headmaster - Mrs Cordley Bradford and Miss Walker
have been present at every function and acted as the fairy godmothers.
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