Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 11 August 1893
Conisborough School Board.
A meeting was held last night. Present, Mr. Dufton (in the chair), and Messrs. Whitfield, Norwood, and Pagdin.
The Clerk read the following letter from the Educational Department: July 25, 1893.—
“Sir,—My Lords have received from Mr. Chambers the names of three other boys who are not attending school, although they have not reached the standard prescribed by the bye-laws. They are Joe W. Barnett, 25, Edlington Street, Denaby Main; John Albert Goodings, 10, Firbeck Street, Denaby Main; Chas. Nettleship, 13, Clifton Street, Denaby Main. My Lords are further informed that some of the new comers to this place keep their children at home for months before presenting them for admission, and others do not send them at all. The latest case in point is that of a boy, Geo. W. Bedford, eight years of age, who was admitted on June 7th, when he had been in the place about 12 months. My Lords trust that your Board will at once take such steps to secure the proper attendance at school of children residing at Denaby Main as will render further action on the part of the Department unnecessary.—I have the honour to be, sir, your obedient servant, G. Millett.”
The Clerk said he had made careful inquiries and found that the allegations were totally unfounded.
Mr. Whitfield said Denaby schools were causing more bother and trouble than all the rest put together, and it was only fussiness on the part of Mr. Chambers in taking such steps.
The Clerk read his reply to Mr. Chambers:
“Dear sir,—In reply to yours of the 25th inst., I beg most respectfully to inform you that neither in the cases named nor in any case whatever has the Conisborough School Board been even so much as asked to grant a certificate of exemption. The boys Goodings, Nettleship, and Barnett, who attain the age of thirteen on September 5th, 13th, and 21st respectively, have since the last examination been placed in the 6th Standard by the master of the Denaby Main School. Goodings has been kept from school during the last nine weeks through having small-pox in the house. When our officer called upon Nettleship and Barnes he was simply told that they had passed the 5th Standard, and as the master’s report showed them to be in Standard VI. he accepted the excuse as valid. With regard to Geo. Wm. Bedford, the master of the Denaby Main School was responsible for his absence, as the boy had been refused admission on the ground that there was no room for him. You will thus see that there is not the slightest foundation for the allegations of the management of the Denaby Main school.—I am, your obedient servant, Geo. Harrison.”
Miss Ridley, assistant-mistress, was granted an advance of from £40 to £45 per annum.
Mr. Pagdin read a letter which he had received from Mr. Smith, schoolmaster, applying for an advance. Mr. Pagdin stated that he had inquired as to the salaries elsewhere, and he had found that Mr. Smith was receiving a better salary by £25.
The application was not granted.
A letter was read from Mr. Smith asking if night schools might be opened during the next winter term.
This matter was adjourned.