South Yorkshire Times, November 20th 1943
Size Of School Classes
Discussion at Conisbrough
Coun. H. Gomersall presided at last week’s meeting or Conisbrough Education Sub-Committee and made sympathetic reference to the illness of Canon Holohan, vice-Chairman of the Committee, who was stated to be in a grave condition. The Clerk was instructed to convey to the Canon the Committee’s hopes for his speedy recovery.
It was reported that the average attendance lor the county during October was 89.08 per cent., and the Mexborough Division, of which Conisbrough is part, stood third in the list with an average of 90.5 per cent. Following a request made by Mr. G. Cheshire at a previous meeting the Clerk, Mr. K. B. Stockdale gave figures of the number of children at the various schools, and the number in each class.
The average number of pupils in each class worked out at slightly more than 34, but Mr. Stockdale pointed out that this was the number of children on roll, and not necessarily the number at school, as sickness would account for probably a 10 per cent. reduction in these figures.
Mr. Cheshire pointed out that the absence of one member of the teaching staff due to sickness would make the position more serious. The position at one school was that every class had more than 40 children. He was perturbed at the position. He mentioned one school where the headmaster had one class composed entirely of backward children. In his view these children needed more attention, not less than the others, He was informed that the headmaster had not time to give them any attention owing to other duties. He thought it was a deplorable state of affairs where the headmaster was not required to take a class when there were over 40 in each class.
The Clerk said it was possible that the teaching staff might be reduced. “We have got to the end of our resources with teachers. We used to have a long list of supply teachers who we could call upon, but there are none left, we are calling out people who had given up teaching twenty years ago. Mrs. Wright reported that there was only one nursery helper at the Balby Street School, and she would be leaving very shortly, and it was decided to obtain another helper. Mrs. Oakley has been appointed to a vacancy at the Denaby Main Junior School, and Mrs. Ward to one at the Balby Street Junior School.
In his report of the Modern School Governors’ meeting, Mr. Cheshire said there had been a request to permit boys to go mangold picking but the Committee were not willing to give their assent because they considered the work too dangerous, and not necessary to the needs of the public. Since the departure of Mr. E. H. Enion the school was now without a woodwork and metalwork teacher. Dealing with the results of gardening at the school, Mr. Cheshire said the greens had been satisfactory, but the potato yield of 2 tons 15 cwts. was less than last year, but this was found to be general in the district. The produce had realised £44 9s.11d. which was £9 less than last year, The newly formed Canteen Sub-Committee had recommended that steps be taken to provide the part-time helpers with overalls, as they themselves were unwilling to give up the necessary coupons. The recommendation was confirmed.
It was reported that the headmaster at one school had utilised 1,000 points for the purchase of emergency rations, as there would probably be times when the meals could not be delivered owing to weather and other conditions. The Committee approved the action, and are to see that the points are replaced. The headmaster at the Denaby Main School sent a request for the afternoon session of the school to commence at 2 pm. instead of 1.30 p.m. as the majority of the children stayed at school for dinner and were more or less at a loose end from one to one-thirty. The request was turned down; it being pointed out that not all the children stayed to school dinners.
Coun. Gomersall mentioned a case when a scholar had won a County Minor Scholarship but had not availed himself of the opportunity of attending the Secondary School. He said “Why allow them to sit for the examination if they are not going to take advantage of it?” Can’t some enquiries be made before they take the examination? Mr. Stockdale said it was a frequent occurrence, but parents could not be forced to sign the agreement to keep their children at school until they had either obtained the Higher School Certificate or attained the age of 16.
Mr. Gomersall: I cannot accept the excuse that parents can’t afford it, because if there is real hardship every facility is offered in the way of fees, travel, meals, and clothing. Parents don’t only consider the expense of keeping the child at school, but think too much about the earning capacity of the child.”