The Headmaster's Diary - 1906. Victoria School - Kurseong. |
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1906 4th March The last party arrived. 5th March School opened, also Registers. 7th March Mr D’Abrue arrived. 8th March Mr W. Stewart arrived. The Commercial class was started. I am greatly hampered by the non-compilation of the new Commercial Building by the PWD. I find it difficult to keep the place clean, there being so much on building going on all around us. I am now one teacher short and running the 2nd Std as best I can. 14th March Mr Tipping - the Inspector of Schools went through the School and expressed his approval of what he saw. I have had a long talk with Mr Tipping on School affairs. I was asked to submit my ideas about a Preparatory School for about 60 boys which is to be worked in connection with the new projected Training College for teachers. I have been through some of the classes and in the absence of Mr Little who with Mr Green has been given short casual leave in connection with the Calcutta University, I have personally taken the 5th Std . The class seems to be in a very satisfactory state. I also found time to give Mr D'Abrue a few hints. Mr Stewart I have not had time to observe thoroughly yet. 23rd March Mr Andrew Wood paid a visit to the School and seemed to be highly pleased with all he saw. He has promised to give me a model of the new Glendinning and desk with its movable top and adjustable seat. I am sorry to find that Mr Sharp and Mr Stewart do not seem to get on well together. I feel quite certain that all chance of friction between the two men would be removed if Government would give Mr Sharp the appointment promised him in Directors No.894. And in Director's office No. 14024. 24th March I have been steadily through the classes during the week. I am thoroughly dissatisfied with Mr D'Abrue so far. His teaching is poor and his discipline is worse. I have spoken to him very strongly and warned him that I look for something very different in the future. I intend to place Mr Sharp, during his spare time, in charge of Mr D'Abrue until the end of the year. Mr Sharp will give model lessons in front of Mr D'Abrue , to see that he prepares his work, criticise and advise, and finally report to me week by week on Mr D'Abrue’s progress. Fortunately during the first year of the Commercial work Mr Sharp has a good deal of time off - time which I think can not be better occupied than in the way I have indicated above. Mr Elliott left for Calcutta to sit for his B.A. degree. 27th March I have been going through my accounts and I must say it is becoming almost impossible to finance the School upon the present allowances. Tables, kitchens, heating apparatus, etc have been multiplied year by year. Prices too are rising steadily. The staff in term time cost me about Rs 34/- per head per month to feed in the holidays about Rs 50/- per month. I am allowed Rs 24/- per month by Government. Needless to say in order to cater properly for my staff I have two touch upon the boy's allowances - allowances which are not large enough to allow of such deductions. I have decided to write to the Inspector upon this important matter. 29th March work is now fairly well started everywhere though I am greatly handicapped by the non-arrival of some of my boys - a delayed due, to the late opening of the Girls School. I am busy drawing up a new timetable for the School as I have increased the hours of teaching and the preparation time for all the boys except those in the 1st & 2nd Standards. 4th April I have just been informed that at the organ examinations for admission into the Medical College, Calcutta, in connection with the Sub Medical Services – A. D'Abrue - passed direct from Victoria School – 2nd on the list. During the 3 months ending February 1906, the under mentioned Victoria School boys took high places in public examinations. 1. Open competative examinations for Sub-Overseer’s Certificate, C.E. College, Sibpur – P. Bapty – 1st on list. (to see another entry for Philip Bapty, click here : Editor JF), 2. Open examination for admission into the Medical College Calcutta – A. D'Abrue: second on the list. 3. Middle School examinations – P. Kelly – 3rd in Bengal. 4. Primary School examinations – O. Piperus – 1st in Bengal. 5th April Work is going on steadily in all the classes. I propose to begin the weekly examinations after the Easter holidays. I witnessed the most successful lesson in the Blacksmith's Shop to the 2nd Technical class. This class is quite above the average on all to do is credit. I heard lessons in the7th & 4th and inspected the drawing in Std 5. Mr Sharp is spending all his spare time coaching and training Mr D'Abrue . He sees an improvement. I do not. I talked over the idea of taking a cricket team to Calcutta in the holidays, with some of the Staff, there are one and all in favour of it. 12th April to 21st April Presentation to Dr Humphrey and half holiday. 22nd April Mr Shovier (?) arrived. 23rd April When through letters as usual. Abraham arrived. 24th April Noah service. I sought two good lessons in the Technical Departments. 28th April Half holiday in honour of the marriage of Dr Humphrey. 3rd May Probert arrived. During the past week I have gone steadily through the classes. There is nothing exceptional to report. Mr Shovier has been shaping well. Mr D'Abrue I fear will hardly do. He has a no “go” no “grip”. Mr Sharp is working hard with him in his spare time and perhaps by the end of the year there may be a change for the better. 5th May The weekly examinations began in in the School and Technical Departments. I am still anxiously awaiting some pronouncement from government on the subject of Messrs Sharp and Stewart - each of them. claims precedence of the other. 6th May Mr Horne - the officiating Inspector of European Schools, Bengal - arrived. I asked him to try and settle all the pending points connected with precedence, catering, etc as soon as possible. 7th May We visited the new springs and when through the School. 10th May Mr Earle, the Director of Public Instruction, Mr Greene, Superintendent Engineer PWD and Mr Hodson (?) Executive (?) Engineer PWD arrived. The day was spent largely in a visiting the proposed sites for the Preparatory School and the Training College and in discussing plans and other points connected with both institutions, I was consequently unable to talk all were the many points I wish to talk about connected with Victoria School. 11th May The Prize Distribution. The prizes were given out by Mr Earle. The day was a thoroughly wet and stormy one but in spite of all this is the attendance of outside people was good and the whole function passed off successfully. 13th May I received a copy of a letter from the Director, sent up to him behind my back by Mr Little.. The letter complained that Miss Von Bibra - a matron of this School - had not been fairly treated in my report. A copy of Mr Earle’s reply was also enclosed: it reproved Mr Little for not writing through his Head Master and further informed and that after inquiring, the Director had satisfied himself that no change in the report was required. 14th May I received a copy of his letter to the Director, from Mr Little, but no copy of the Director’s reply. I have a long interview with Mr Little and gave him my opinion of the whole affair in unvarnished terms. I wrote to the Director of Public Instruction explicitly contradicting Mr Little's statements. 15th May I spend a long time in the classes: unheard a good lesson on the noun by Mr Price in Std 7. 18th May A holiday. Cricket match: -Staff of Victoria School Vs the District: the latter won Annual Dance. Mr Horne arrived and left. 19th May A holiday. Cricket match - Boys of Victoria School versus the District - the former won. 24th May The first session of this - Empire Day - was spent in talking over Imperial Topics in the Class rooms. The cadets were then turned out in uniform. A “feu de joie” (?) Was fired, and three cheers were given for the King Emperor. The rest of the day was observed as a holiday. 25th May I heard Mr Shovier give a fairly good lesson in the 6th Std on the noun and I was particularly pleased with the lesson by Mr Greene in the Technical class on quadrants. Heard Mr Little would give a good lesson in drawing – subject - a bell: this to Std 5. 26th May Another of Mr Stewart's letters regarding his work and position. Forwarded at once to the Inspector. 28th May Letters as usual. 1st June I heard a lesson on the Hindi alphabet given to Std 6 by the Munshi, I was much pleased by it. 12th June I sent a notice round to the staff in accordance with the Directors No. T/210, rearranging the positions of some of the teachers. The post of Assistant Head Master having been abolished, Mr Sharp, taking rank by his grade pay, now comes directly under Mr Little. 15th June I witnessed a good drawing lesson in the Technical class under Mr Elliott and in standard three a good lesson by Mr Pinto on tables and word building. As a teacher, Mr Pinto has greatly improved during the last six months and his class is making good progress. 16th June The King's Birthday - a thoroughly wet day, I decided to postpone the usual holiday until we had a fine day. 2nd July The weather being fine, I gave the boys a full holiday. 4th July Heard a lesson on analysis in standard six. The lesson was not as good as some I have heard Mr Shovier give. 5th July Heard part of a good lesson on the Geography of Europe in standard five and a short lesson on S. Interest in standard six. 9th July The half yearly examinations began. Commercial dormitory and classrooms in good order. 13th July I spent a long time in Std 2 with Mr D'Abrue . Heard lessons one writing and English and grammar. The teacher has greatly improved - a result largely due to the careful coaching of Messrs Sharp and Barker. I have been moving round the classes are regularly - day by day - spending a few minutes in each where I think they are needed. The work is going on nicely. I am leaving the Senior Commercial Master practically a free hand. His letters and weekly examination marks are sent in to me.. 15th to 18th July Went to Calcutta to buy prizes – books etc. and to see The Inspector of European Schools, Bengal. Mr Stewart officiated for me in the Schoolwork during my absence. 23rd July I heard a good lesson on the program in Std 2. 28th July “Assault at arms” in the main hall - great success. 29th July The Rev. Mr Careless (?) - Chaplain of Jamalpur - conducted the Service to both Schools, in the assembly hall. 30th July Letters as usual. 6th (?) August I heard a lesson in the 6th on the compound pronoun and one in the 3rd Std on poetry. The health of the School continues excellent, the Hospital being nearly empty. 13th August I had a stocktaking in the dining room and found the crockery and cutlery very deficient. I have replaced most of these deficiencies and I have also given that Mr Whitaker a very serious talking to upon the subject of proper supervision. I have requested him to post up his stock book weekly and to get it initialled by me. 15th August I heard a good lesson in Std 3 on the adjective. One of Mr Green's successful afternoon concerts was held - largely attended by people from Kurseong. A half holiday given. 16th August Went over to the Commercial Class and spoke to Mr Barker about the work - with which he seemed satisfied. 20th August Heard an examination paper on English Grammar worked out by Mr Price in front of Std 7. I have looked in at the classes from time to time. Work is going on steadily. I have taken the examination papers round to the classes weekly and commented upon them in front of the class. I have just designed and completed a new desk which I think at a cost of Rs 20/- each will meet all requirements here. The top moves backwards and forwards, and the seat up and down. 31st August I propose to send a hockey team up to Darjeeling to play St Paul's School and St Joseph's College, on the 13th and 15th of next month. During the week I went across to the top of the Pugla Jhora” with the Executive Engineer - Mr Hodgson - and we inspected the finds spring there. Mr Hodgson agrees with me that it ought to be linked up with and our new tank without delay and it is capable of supplying us with about 7000 gallons of water per day. 5th September Heard part of a good lesson in Std 4 on Indian Railways. 10th September Heard a reading lesson in Std 3 and letters in Std 2. 13th September Sent hockey team to Darjeeling to play St Paul's and St Joseph's. 1st match was lost by 4 to 3, 2nd match was lost by 3 to 0. 17th September inspection by Brig Gen McDonald of the School Cadets Gen expressed himself as greatly pleased. 18th September Heard a good lesson on the Predic Dative (?) to Std 7 by Mr Price. 22nd September Ms Williams, the Lady Housekeeper arrived. 24th to 29th September Puja Holidays. On the 28th of September Miss Von Bibra left and Mr Little Little took a week's leave. Mrs Cunliffe had arrived some days previously to takeover Miss Von Bibra’s work as matron. I have visited the Commercial Building regularly about three times a week. 5th October Mr Stewart left for Calcutta with the object of inspecting Commercial books. 8th October Mr Little returned. During Mr Little's absence I took his class the 5th Std, was occasional help from Mr Barker. I found the class in a very forward – satisfactory - state. 10th October Mr Elliott left for Jalpaiguri with his survey party of five boys from the second year Technical class. I have arranged for them to stay at the Jalpaiguri Club. 11th October Mr Varley – Superintendent of English Training Colleges, Bengal, visited the School. I had a long conversation with him about sites and about the relative suitability of Darjeeling and Kurseong as a station for a Training College. 15th October Letters as usual. The hospital still continues empty, the health of the School being excellent. 21st October Professor Cunningham arrived here with the object of reporting upon the proposed science and object lesson rooms for the Standards. He went thoroughly into the subject with Messrs Barker, Sharpe, and myself and appeared to considerably modify his first impressions in the course of the morning. 22nd October Mr Stewart returned to School. I had a visit fromSir C. Ghose and The Hon. P.C. Gupta, I.C.S. I showed them over the School with which they expressed themselves and greatly pleased. Mr Little resigned the post of Hon, Secretary, Sports Committee, Mr Barker was elected in his stead pro-tem. 24th October Heard a good lesson on the Geography of India in the 3rd Std by Mr Pinto and a fair lesson on £. S. P. in the 2nd Std. 31st October Health of the School continues good. Much pleased with the work of Miss Williams, Lady Housekeeper, during the month. She has improved the serving of the food all round and in addition reduced the expenditure. If she continues like this she will quite justify her appointment. I have written into the government about the native Cemetery close to the School. In my opinion it is not only a nuisance by\ut the danger. In some of the graves bodies are being buried for the third time. I am glad to see that steps are being taken to acquire some land elsewhere. 3rd November Annual Athletic Sports. Fine weather. Great success. 5th November The School in Cricket, defeated the District by an innings and 116 runs. 6th November A visit from Mr Horne, Inspector of European Schools, I went round the Commercial classes with him. He tested the boys in Typing, etc. 7th November An unpleasant incident was reported to me today by Mr Shovier. Four boys, Frinzone (?) and Lawson, Leys and Duncan (6th Std) walked into Mr Shovier’s rooms which he had left unlocked and help themselves to some of the papers he had prepared for the forthcoming examinations.the boys were identified by a servant and confessed when taxed with the fault by me. I came the four boys are soundly, gated them for the rest of the term, cancelled the whole examination, and issued fresh papers. Lawson and Leys should I think not be allowed to return here next term. 8th November Received Mr Horne’s permission to request Lawson and Leys. C. not to return. 19th November The School examinations began under the superintendence of the Rev. Mr Tulloch. 28th November Prize distribution and concert. Mr Spry I.C.S. presided. 1st, 3rd, 5th December Parties left for Calcutta under Messrs Price, Greene and Elliott, respectively. I spent two months out of the three months of holiday in going through the buildings, stores, equipment, etc. I was greatly aided by Mr and Mrs Sharp who gave me almost daily assistance. |