Girls school log extracts - 1919

The First World War has ended, but news of people being killed is only just filtering through to Stockton...

1919

10th January
Had to send home Phyllis Hawkins, whose swollen face resembled a full moon. This comparison is recorded in no unkind levity at another's suffering, but only lest I be accused of undue sympathy when a member of staff is indisposed.

14th January
Today is the birthday of the Richard Hind School. It has attained the age of six years, its infancy passed in an atmosphere of war. A school by day, a fortress by night, its walls have echoed to the tramp of the home guard, commanded by Alderman Nattrass. Our men kept watch when the deadly Zeppelins were hovering, trying to bring death to our ancient town. Peace is spreading her wings, but the clouds of industrial war darken the horizon. The disease of strikes is sapping our industrial health.

20th January
The teachers are on strike and all schools closed until further notice. Children, the greatest asset of the British Empire and worth more than all the radium in existence, have become the shuttle-feathers of fate.

2nd February
The school has been handicapped by the absence of one or more staff every week since Whitsun. While illness cannot always be avoided, common sense precautions, such as not wearing flimsy stockings or light blouses, would prevent many days off. If only Dr. Horne would deliver a lecture on the duty of guarding health and the folly of some fashions!

10th February
We have been long sad that children can leave school if they please at thirteen. These half-finished scholars swell the ranks of labour at a time when they need tactful guidance to escape life's snares. Like young colts from the paddock they gallop the highways and by-ways at their own sweet will and only a miracle can save them from disaster.

11th February
Some fathers in the army have received distressing letters telling of children beyond control roaming the streets by night, frequenting Picture Palaces and Ice Cream Dens and swelling the numbers of the Juvenile Courts. What of the future for these children whose fathers lie forever still in the green fields of Flanders or who sleep beneath the waves till the Great Day of Awakening?

18th February
A girl at school has lost a sailor brother who went down on HMS Formidable. Coming from a slum home, thinly clad and poorly nourished, she proved to be a dull, spiritless scholar. But the loss of her brother has caused a wonderful spiritual transformation. Her eyes shine with pride and she walks with stateliness now she is conscious of the brother who has given his life for his country and freedom. Now she can never return to her dull, listless state.

23rd February
Returning to the first classroom after supervising lower down the school I found my girls not intent on their lessons but sobbing as if their hearts would break. Their sorrow stabbed at the heart of the listener. The cause? The brother of one of their classmates had been killed at Arras. Florrie Shipley's sorrow was their sorrow and so they mingled their tears together.

28th February
The Education Committee visited the school to talk to the children about the advantages of thrift and the importance of contributing to the National Peace Savings effort.

5th March
Some girls are invariably late on certain mornings. "Had to go to the butcher's" or " They kept me at the co-op" is the invariable excuse. When the peace is signed perhaps some stores will open earlier and save some of my scholars a worrying start to the day. Those who are ill are either suffering from the 'flu epidemic or are enfeebled through lack of nutritious foods (the nutritious value of food has deteriorated since the armistice).

28th June
Peace signed today in the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles, Paris.

18th July
Children's festivities in Ropner Park in connection with the National Peace Celebrations were held today. Four schools took part and we gained 12 prizes out of a possible 28. Races were won by Bertha Hobday, Winnie Bell, Ruth Woodhead and Kathleen Reay. Mabel Elder won the prize for skipping for one minute and Ivy Snarey gained a special award for fancy dress. Our prize winners are not "puffed up". Fame is merely a spur to greater efforts and achievements.

19th July
Peace Celebrations! Harmony and concord knit the hearts of the people of Stockton on this memorable day of days. We are all proud of our ancient borough and its citizens. In the ensuing pageant we had the honour of representing "Peace" and "Reconstruction".

25th July
Attendance has dropped appreciably this month. The cause - an epidemic of picnics on school days. The glorious sunshine and "Peace" is luring town folks far afield for a brief spell.

1st August
Mr. Purdy, Director of Education, visited and outlined some of his grand schemes whereby Stockton shall become second to none, as a town, in reconstruction of the whole fabric of education.

10th October
Miss Ninni Fagueland, a teacher from Bergen, Norway, spent a day with us, observing the methods of teaching in an English School. I see that the dominance of German methods and ideals has influenced Norwegian, Swedish and Danish education, for Germany has been admired and feared by these lesser nations who have, for generations, regarded Germany as their bulwark against Russian aggression. Teaching in Norway savours of instruction not education, memory not understanding. All lessons are learnt off by heart I was informed. Scandinavia is rich in folk song and dance, yet the Norwegian teacher had to visit an English council school ere she saw a class of girls dance some of her national dances.

24th October
Celebrated Nelson's Day. Speeches were delivered by girls who acquitted themselves with an aplomb and coolness which grown-up orators might well envy. The theme was a recital of the lives and deeds of the men who have helped to build up the British Empire, from Caedmon to Marshall Haig, with Lord Nelson as the apex of their tower.

11th November
First anniversary of Armistice Day. Children assembled in the drill hall to celebrate the "Great Silence" in memory of that mighty host who gave their lives in the cause of sacred freedom and liberty. The massed pupils were addressed on the solemnity of the present, the glories of the past and the promise of the future. The blowing of buzzers was the signal for silence and prayer, after which the girls sang "The Heavens Are Telling" and "McCrimin's Lament".

12th November
School closed. Heating apparatus gone wrong. A week of blizzards.

21st November
Attendance poor, result of severe weather. Bad quality of war footwear largely responsible for colds and chills among scholars.

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