Girls school log extracts - 1920

Memories of the First World War are finally slipping into the past. The day-to-day routines of the school are recorded once more in the headteacher's log book of the Richard Hind school, which later became Bishopsgarth...

1920

7th January
Deeply regret to record the death of Florence Pallister, age 11, a scholar of this department, from the after-effects of Scarlet Fever.

14th January
7th anniversary of the opening of the Richard Hind School. The high tide of industrial war has devastated Britain's workshops and well-nigh wrecked its ship of commerce.

A wave of restlessness has swept over the children; they would fain play at work - were they allowed - and work at play. The role of butterfly, not busy bee, attracts. the teacher's duty is solemn, high and arduous. The building up of the nation inevitably begins in school. Our task is to teach children the duty and nobility of work.

3rd February
Young teachers must be allowed to find their wings, nor must their flight be curbed, lest they cease to soar to empyreal heights and settle down as a "penguin" of a teacher. Mistakes will inevitably be made, but mistakes, rightly used, are the stepping stones to success.

5th March
46 girls lost 136 attendances. These casual absentees and spurious cases of sickness are, too often, unnecessarily absent from school. As a result the annual average attendance is lowered very considerably, often seriously. I am concerned with the problem: 'What kind of women will these become who are acquiring such slack habits at home?'

18th May
The school was visited by Her Majesty's Inspectors. The report says: 'The staff are unremitting in their efforts, while the girls work industriously and behave well. The school has improved since the last visit in 1914, due to steady application, the development of independent study and the provision of very useful reference books. The report concludes that there should, however, be more individual work in English; further participation by the children in the teaching process; and a modification in the present approach to special needs.'

21st May
Empire Day. Todays celebration will live in the memories of the pupils of the Richard Hind School. It was the occasion of the distribution of the Peace Medals to Stockton pupils, thus marking the end of the Great War, a time when Allies fought for their very existence. The Empire Bouquet of flowers was presented to Mrs. Nattrass by Irene Thompson. After a vociferous three cheers for King George, the National Anthem brought to a close our celebrations.

16th July
Attendance has fallen considerably. Heavy rain, bad boots and holidaying are the chief causes of absence.

29th July
The Stockton Schools' Sports were held today in Ropner Park. The pupils gave a good account of themselves, winning 20 points out of 36. Events included the Thread Needle Race, won by Ethel Crosthwaite, the Skipping Race, won by Grace Moses and the Potato Race won by Isa Winter.

30th July
Miss Newton returned to school this morning, obviously unfit to teach, but would stay since another member of the staff is absent, and loyalty to us would not suffer her to further handicap the work on breaking-up day. School closed this afternoon at 4 pm for Midsummer Vacation 1920.

11th November
The Great Silence was solemnly kept in this school this morning at 11 am. Massed in the Drill Hall, the girls sang 'Oh God, our help in ages past' after which the Head Teacher addressed the scholars on 'How I must strive to be worthy of the heritage preserved for us through the sacrifices of our beloved dead.' A tableau had been arranged on a platform improvised from 5 sewing tables covered with a carpet. Wrapped in a large Australian Union Jack were two scholars whose fathers had made the supreme sacrifice. Peace knelt brooding over them, while Britannia stood alert with Victory and St. George as her henchmen.

17th December
Tide of sickness rising. 23 cases in school. Average attendance 84.4%.

22nd December
'I have been delighted to spend some time in various classes where work has been in progress amongst such bright scholars.' signed F. Nattrass (Chairman of School Managers)

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