Absent Through Want of Boots

Diary of a Victorian School in Leicestershire

Robert Elverstone

• Publisher: The History Press
• Year: 2014
• Print ISBN: 9780750952187
• eBook ISBN: 9780750955294
• Topic: Social Sciences
• Subtopic: Social Science Biographies
• Index: Social Sciences

June 13th 1890: Mrs Bailey found Albert playing truant on Wednesday morning and brought him to school, giving him a good thrashing in the cap room with a stick she brought with her. December 11th 1908: The inclement weather has affected the average. Had two cases of boys not attending through want of boots. Following the 1870 Forster Elementary Education Act, Albert Road Board School in Leicestershire opened on September 2nd 1878, with an average role of 500 children. Drawn from the first-hand accounts of the head teachers in the school logbooks, this book details the diseases and ailments suffered; the struggle of local families to feed and clothe their children, especially during difficult times of strike and war; the introduction of vaccinations and the school health inspector; and comments about the curriculum, staff and leisure activities. Sometimes humorous but often sad, everyday life is captured here: from accounts of overcrowded classrooms and corporal punishment, to squabbles about tending the classroom fires, this book describes the reality of life in a Victorian school.

One

Early Days, 1872–1878

In the early days following the 1870 Education Act, the Hinckley Board acquired temporary premises in the congregational church. This allowed time for planning and building the new school.

1872

October 12th:	The school was opened on Monday 7th by Mr S.U. Frazer, Certificated Master of the Class One. Several members of the School Board were present and Mr Kiddle, Clerk to the Board, attended for the purpose of enrolling pupils. The week was mainly occupied in organising the school and classifying the pupils. The attendance was very regular and reasonable progress was made. The children seem to be accustomed to but little – if any – homework.
October 19th:	The week now ended has been a very busy one. The children were examined, with a view to classification; classes were arranged, details of school routine settled, order and discipline fairly started and satisfactory progress made in actual teaching. By desire of the Board, Mr Frazer undertook the management of the Infant Department until the Board should appoint a Certificated Mistress. Messrs Atkins and Aucott called to consult about books, maps and other apparatus required. The pupil teachers have been punctual and regular and have shown a desire to give satisfaction, which promises well for the future.
November 2nd:	Many of the children say that they cannot attend to any home lessons because they have to work all the time they are out of school. In one case, the withdrawal of a pupil was threatened if home lessons of any kind were insisted on.
November 9th:	A number of new scholars this week, whose height and age might justify one in assuming some progress in education, do not know the alphabet and can neither write nor figure.
December 20th:	School closed for Christmas Holidays, to meet again on December 30th.
December 30th:	School reopened after Christmas Holiday, by E. Guilford. Number present at all during week: 27.

1873

January 13th:	Numbers fewer in the morning on account of the cattle market in front of the school.
January 20th:	First week of competition for attendance prizes with a view to improve the daily attendance. Thirty-eight present at all during week. Children improving in cleanliness.
February 3rd:	Attendance poor; wretched weather. The snow very deep on the playground, which prevents the children from coming to school.
February 10th:	Fees reduced one penny per week.
February 14th:	Twenty-three gained the ticket for regular attendance.
February 25th:	A bitter cold morning and snowing fast at nine o’clock which has caused the nu...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title
• Acknowledgements
• Contents
• Introduction
• One Early Days, 1872–1878
• Two New Beginnings, 1878–1881
• Three Golden Jubilee, 1882–1888
• Four A New Book, 1889–1893
• Five Diphtheria, 1894–1896
• Six End of an Era, 1897–1904
• Seven Want of Boots, 1905–1913
• Eight The Great War, 1914–1919
• Nine Age of Reform, 1920–1942
• Ten Post-1942
• Copyright