The Early Years of Park Schools as
Described in School Records

O N the occasion of the hundredth birthday of Park Schools it may be interesting to many old pupils and instructive to many younger ones to peep into the dim and distant past through the magic door of the old School Records. What a wonderful source of information on educational practice, local events, social conditions and, incidentally, on human nature, are these early Log Books! Comedy and tragedy are here recorded with almost daily regularity, sometimes in that “bold round hand” demanded of pupils a hundred years ago, and sometimes in a spidery scrawl, now faded with time, that calls for a good microscope and a little imagination. If nothing of importance happened such as, for example, a visit from “ one of the gentlemen of the Committee,“ the entry merely recorded “ Ordinary Progress,“ “ O.P.“ for short, until that momentous Annual Day of Trial came along when H.M. Inspector of Schools examined all the pupils and delivered judgment that defined the exact extent of the “ Ordinary Progress ” and of the Government grant.

The First Log Book of the “ Aberdare British School” (the original name for Park School) can not be found, but the First Log Book of the Girls’ Department, dated 1864, and that of the Infants’ Department, dated 1865, are available. As for the Boys’ School, we must begin in 1876 with the departure of Mr. Walter Hogg and the appointment in his place of Mr. W. D. Lewis.

The first entry, dated March 31st, 1864, reads: “ I, Margaret Edwards, commenced duties at the Ebenezer School room in the afternoon. Mr. Davies separated the girls from the boys and sent them over to me.”

On March 13th. 1865, the girls left Ebenezer and “entered the new school room. Children very pleased with the new rooms.”

H.M. Inspector Bowstead visited the school on April 25th and reported that the Infants’ School had just taken possession of its new rooms. And so we have, for the first time, three departments—the Boys under Mr. Dan Isaac Davies, the Girls under Mrs. Davies, his wife, and the Infants under Miss Jenkins.

On May 14th, 1866, Mrs. Davies records: “ I was not in school to-day as my little daughter, Mary Margaretta, was born this day.” Three days later the School, had a half holiday “in honour of the event on Monday.”

On April 4th, 1867, Mrs. Davies writes: “ As this was the last day in School (Mr Davies and myself having resigned last Christmas), I presented each child with a coloured pictorial card.”

Mr. Davies was to return to his old school in 1870 as a Sub-Inspector of Schools. Later on, after his return to Wales, we find an entry made by him in the Log Book, dated January 21st, 1885.

We take our last farewell of Dan Isaac Davies with this entry: “May 31st, 1887: Sent a note to the office that I intended to be absent in the afternoon attending the funeral of our late lamented Sub-Inspector of Schools and at one time master of these Schools. Received reply: No objection. I am going myself.”

For the first 25 years of their existence the Aberdare British Schools were fostered by the British and Foreign Schools Society, and managed by a local school committee who must have been very benevolent gentlemen as they made a practice of giving their children an annual treat. On this auspicious day in August or September the School was decorated, the children “attired in their holiday dress” having their “likenesses taken” on the green in front of the School. Then they paraded “the principal streets of the town” accompanied by the committee. The usual tea and cake followed.

But the British, and Foreign School Society were also an examining body, and we have several records of evening examinations being conducted by Mr. D. Williams, either in Ebenezer Chapel or in the Temperance Hall, Aberdare. On one such occasion the children were treated to tea and cake in the afternoon, and to a public examination in Scripture, Geography, Grammar and Mental Arithmetic in the evening.

The recruitment and training of teachers in these early days were haphazard affairs: the good scholar of one day became the monitor, the candidate and the Pupil Teacher of the next. The education of the P.T. was the business of the Head Teacher, and began very early in the morning judging by a typical entry: “Teachers are present at 6 a.m.” Pupil Teachers were for ever being “warned,” “criticised,” and “punished” by being kept in. “ — was cautioned against eating sweets in school time,”  “ — was cautioned against using harsh words in her class.” One P.T. in the seventies is mentioned as “A most inferior portion of the staff,” yet, a few pages further on, this “miserable student” found his “Forte” as a most “promising conductor.” Two P.T.’s were discovered reading the low literature as ‘Boys of England’ and ‘Roderick Dhu,’ etc.” The “thrillers” were confiscated and burnt and the offenders were “prohibited—from further indulgence.”

School attendance was also very casual and half holidays were a matter for the Head Teachers. On May 10th, 1869: “After school gave each teacher a list of children for them to go and ascertain whether they had left school or not.” On November 16th, 1868: “This being election week, in consequence of the great excitement prevailing in town, have been obliged to give a weeks holiday.” On September 12th, 1864: “The schoolroom being wanted in the afternoon for a tea-party connected with a Female Club, a half holiday was given.” On November 17, 1865: “No school to-day owing to the schoolroom being white-washed.”

It is interesting to note that, in 1869, the Infants’ School was overcrowded and, as the Government grant was in jeopardy, the Committee opened a “Branch School” in Tabernacle Vestry, Aberdare.

And so we come to the year 1870, with its new Education Act. Henceforward every child had a right to be educated at school, but it took some years for the new School Boards to function fully. On April 27th, 1876, is found this significant entry: “The transfer of the school not being completed, we are peculiarly situated, as the former Managers have relinquished all connection with the school.” The last signature on behalf of the Managers was that of Joseph Farr, in June, 1875. From that date onward there is a tightening-up of control. A new Superintendent of Schools, Mr. Hodgson, appears, and, letters signed by Mr. R. Orton Gery (Clerk of the School Board) registering “unanimous resolutions” by the School Board are copied into the Log Book. In one of the Books these resolutions are entered, in red ink, providing a graphic illustration of a busy Board and an attentive Head Mistress. In these red-lettered pages are prescribed numerous orders and regulations governing school hours and holidays, the procedure to be adopted if parents are “really unable” to pay school fees, the punctuality of teachers, the appointment of pupil teachers and many others. How was this new despotism (!) received by the Head Teachers? Some record without comment but one reacts violently: “I was informed yesterday that the Committee declined to allow me The Blackbird Song Books, Merchants Arithmetics, Manuals of Parsing, and Curtains, for the room, etc. Really it is preposterous that these things, some of which are absolutely necessary and others helping to forward the efficiency of the School by saving time, etc., should be disallowed. The teacher’s experience seems to be ignored and his hands tied by anything that the Committee—guided, I dare say, by the Inspector—may choose to grant.” This policy is obstructive to the welfare of the school.”

A little later this appears: “Registers checked. Stock and Stores. Admission and Summary not completed. The amount of clerical work falling on Board teachers is quite a nuisance. Teaching is interfered with, or if the teacher devotes his time to his proper professional work, and to that which would benefit his school and which is infinitely more agreeable than that of clerical work, then he is reported to the Board for ‘neglect of duty.’ Much of this work should be done by clerks appointed for the purpose.” This desperate mood is, however, soon overcome, for in a few days time is to be found this blessed entry: “Taught them a fresh hymn, ‘I love this world so beautiful’.”

Occasionally interesting events are referred to on account of their effect upon the school. On July 28, 1869: “Told the children that I shall expect to see them particularly clean and neat to-morrow as we intend joining the procession to open the new Public Park.” On May 5th, 1873: “ Small-pox prevalent. Sent a little girl home last week as a lodger at her home was suffering from small-pox. The little girl’s father came to school to-day to ask me to allow her to remain in school as he believed that small-pox was neither contagious nor infectious.” (The Head Mistress did not succumb to the blandishments of the father nor to the ravages of small-pox.)

On July 7th, 1873: “Attendance small to-day in consequence of the rehearsal of the Welsh Choir previous to starting for the competition at the Crystal Palace.” And on the following day: “Excursion to London. Great many parents have gone with the choir.” On May 11th, 1887: “Owing to the excitement occasioned by the introduction of boats to the Public Park, found it difficult to get the children in time.” On June 2nd, 1887: “Several children brought notes from parents asking to be allowed to leave early in order to accompany them to Merthyr for the purpose of seeing the Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone.”

Page after page of these Log Books is devoted to “school pence,” as the school fees paid by the children were called. There is much unemployment; parents are unable to pay and Head Teachers are harassed by letters such as these from the Board: “Notwithstanding the expressed direction of the Board that any arrears would not be permitted, the amount of arrears in your department is increasing”; “If these arrears be allowed to continue the Board will hold the Head Teacher liable for the payment.”

In February, 1877, is this entry: “60 children sent home for school fees. Many people have come to explain that they had hardly food to eat much less money for fees”; and in April: “A great nuisance every Monday morning occurs with the tirades and abuse of aggrieved mothers respecting this system.”

The state of employment can be judged by this entry on February 16th, 1879: “The fees of 1/6th of the boys paid by the Guardians.”

In 1880—1 there is a record of seven parents being summoned before County Court Judge Falconer for not paying fees. The judge “raised the question that the parent was not liable to pay fees, no contract being fulfilled between the parent and the Board. The case was adjourned for one month.” Ultimately judgment was given in favour of the Board.

Some parents’ letters appear in full in one Log Book. Here is one: “ Sir, It was only last week that i pay for the schooling for the two boys so it is only for this week that i do owe i am not compel to pay the schooling every week, every fortnight i paid the schooling to Mr. Lewis so if you cant keep him in school this week without his fourpence i shall put him in another school where i can pay once a month.”

Many parents were almost desperate, so was the Head Teacher who made this entry: “Several children have not paid their fees. Excuse given ‘No pay at the tin works—the Manager having run away’. How am I to treat these in the Fee Books?”

“The old order changeth, yielding place to new.” School pence have gone; so have many other features of school life if this was a true picture of Park Schools, seventy years ago: “I have repeatedly prohibited the use of corporal punishment by the younger teachers, yet, having been so much accustomed as scholars and teachers to an unrestrained use of sticks, fists and a boisterous manner, it will be some time before I shall be able to break off the habit. To aid the teachers in securing promptness of discipline I shall purpose taking the boys through a course of drill.” This course is outlined in a “programme” that savours of the barrack square: “No. for presentation, 96 in ranks and 16 officers

1. Fall in as 4 companies in columns.

2. Right wheel into line.

3. Open Order.

4. Close order, etc., etc.”

This drill does not seem to have been too successful judging by later entries which indicate that many Park School children led a very robust school life.

Occasionally even Pupil Teachers seemed to be in need of some sort of military drill. How otherwise are we to interpret references to actions which “savoured of insubordination” and of “kicking against the yoke”? How these young rebels were persuaded to “Change front” and “Retire in fours” is not recorded apart from the entry: “I found it necessary to show them their position and mine.”

Within the compass of a short article, many interesting events must be omitted and many names must go unrecorded—Heads and Assistants and Pupil Teachers; Officers and Members of the local Committee; Inspectors of Schools. However strange many of these records may appear to us, it should be remembered that they recall the pioneering days of public education when, with little assistance from the State, men of vision like Dr. T. Price, Rev. William Edwards, the Right Hon. H. A. Bruce, strove to establish “British Schools” with the help of the chapels and the pence of poor people who knew the value of education and did not count the cost.

These old Log Books must therefore be left with a brief reference to the last two signatures that appear in one of them, that of the late Mr. John Morris, once Superintendent of Schools, and that of the late Mr. John Griffiths, for many years Headmaster of Park Boys’ School. They were both respected, loved and revered, and they provide a connecting link between the very old and the very new.