Snippets from the Jubilee School Log Book – 1898-99 – John Pindar

In the Local History Archive at the Central Library, there is the Log Book for Halliwell Jubilee (Mixed and Infant) School from 1898 to when the school closed in 1909. The former school is now St Peter’s Parish JubiCentre, and the monthly home of the Halliwell Local History Society.

A lot of the entries are routine records of matters such as staff absences and examinations given to different classes. In between these are some snippets which give a flavour of school life at the end of the nineteenth century – as viewed by the Master.

These are some from the school year 1898-99:-

1898

April 1st
The scholars have been moved up into their new Standards and all seem very pleased to commence fresh work.

(The school year was from 1st April to 31st March. In 1872, six Standards of Education were introduced. These standards did not correspond to year groups. Promotion was on merit and many children did not complete all the grades.)

April 20th
Owing to several scholars’ carelessness with the Arithmetic books, I have made a rule that all must pay for them and the money to be returned if the books show careful usage at the year’s end. I hope this will save corporal punishment, which has not had the desired effect. At the end of three months, many books have been unfit for use.

July 14th – Staff

H Ellis – Master
A Harter – Assistant C.T.
S Higginson – Assistant C.T.
E Nichols – Assistant Art 68
M A Martin – P.T. Third Year
M Mercer – P.T. Third Year
B Crompton – P.T. Second Year
E Crompton – Art 35

(C.T. is Certified Teacher and P.T. is Pupil Teacher. I am still trying to find information about Articles 35 and 68. The Master was male. The rest of the staff were female.)

Aug. 25th
Opened school on Wednesday morning being closed for the general holiday on Monday and Tuesday. The attendance has been very thin many scholars being away with their parents.

Sep. 7th
The hot weather is the cause at present of much careless work. Many scholars are quite unable to fight against the effect of it, and seem to be in a semi-dormant state.

Sep. 13th
Received notice of the P.T.’s Examination:- Oct. 15th in the Central Higher Grade Sch. Bolton to begin at 9 o’clock.

Oct. 18th
The Rev. J.H.Coughlan visited this morning and arranged for the school to be closed next week on account of the Bazaar.

Oct. 31st
Reopened with a fair attendance. Work has been difficult owing to the disordered state of the room.

Nov 1st
The room is still in a very disordered state in consequence of which we are unable to follow the Time Table.

Nov 2nd
The room is now straight and work is progressing.

Nov 23rd
In consequence of a very heavy fall of snow, the roads in many places are blocked. Only 96 scholars present. They were dismissed, the registers not being marked.

Dec 20th The Rev J.H.Coughlan visited today and arranged for the school to be closed on Thursday. [22nd Dec.]

1899

Feb. 1st
Mr Thwaites visited this afternoon and gave £2 to provide games for the Boys and Girls.

Feb. 14th
Received from Gledsdale:- Two gallons of ink and three rubbers.
Being Shrove Tuesday, the school was closed in the afternoon.

Mar. 30th
Closed the school this morning for the usual Easter Holiday.