The Headmaster's Diary - 1951. Victoria School - Kurseong. |
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1/03/1951 A wonderful winter; not a drop of rain, with the result that the whole place is dry and dusty. The quadrennial repairs due this year were only partially done, as the contractor, to whom the work was given died in December.
2/03/1951 Messrs Paine and Ross brought up the first party consisting of 51 boys. After a long tiring journey they arrived at Kurseong at 5.15 pm minus two trunks, thanks to the confusion that reigns on the railway – the Assam Link Route. The Station Master - Siliguri was informed of the loss as soon as it was discovered. 3/03/1951 The second party (46) arrived in school at 4.30 pm. In the charge of Messrs Bloud and Higgins who had the same story of confusion and inefficiency to relate. 5/03/1951 We were not able to start work today, as intended because the second party’s boxes did not arrive last evening and so the unfortunate boys have had to pig it for yet another day. 6/03/1951 I held a Staff meeting this morning and then addressed the school. Text books and stationery were given out in the course of the day. 9/03/1951 Only 9 boys out of out total of 159 have not yet returned. It does not really matter for it is utterly impossible to run a school with three members of the Staff short, and this after three months during which the Dept., has done nothing to fill the vacancies. I recently recommended a teacher, who is available, for immediate recruitment; but next year is as good as today. 1713/1951 St Patrick’s Day. 22/03/1951 The Senior Cambridge results came in this evening. First
Grade: K. Ball, N. Sarker (stood 3rd in Bengal), P.Tennent, G. White. 25/03/1951 Easter Sunday, a bright warm, dry, dusty day. No rain since last September. 26/03/1951 A sprinkle last night, and today is quite chilly and cloudy. 31/03/1951 A thunder and hail-storm last night brought a very welcome downpour of rain, and it also extinguished out electric lights. I inspected the Servants Lines this morning. No cinema this evening because the film though sent by air on Monday had not arrived. We went into quarantine last evening because of one case of suspected measles. 1/04/1951 The film (The Mighty McGurk) arrived and was screened at Dow Hill. Our new Bengali Master, Mr Bhattacharjee, reported this morning for duty. Bengali is being introduced into Victoria, and Hindi which has been taught ever since the birth of the school is to be relegated to second place. 2/04/1951 I heard the cuckoo this morning for the first time this year, though one of the boys says he heard it yesterday. Strange, it was heard for the first time last year on April 2nd also. The recent rain has brought the temperature down considerably and some boys unaccustomed to the hills are feeling the cold. Santakphu and Tongloo have had a fall of snow. 6/04/1951 The Senior Cambridge detailed results arrived today. Very warm dusty weather again. The evenings, however, continue fairly chill. 14/04/1951 18/04/1951 The annual Retreat for the catholic boys commenced this evening. It is being conducted by Fr. Murphy of St Mary’s. A thunder storm at 5 pm gave us a little welcome rain and hail. 19/04/1951 20/04/1951 Still another thunder storm with hail at 5 pm. 22/04/1951 A lovely day. A cricket match with two of the Staff playing was played today. The Retreat ended this morning. 24/04/1951 The Annual Staff Vs Boys Cricket match was played today. The boys batted first and after a poor start (11 for 3), reached a total of 142 , Slacke playing a magnificent innings and contributing 53 runs not out. The Staff began their innings after lunch but were all out for60 before 2.30 pm. This collapse was due to Rev. Solomon being LBW when he had scored only 20, and Mr Bloud, run out for 0. The teams had tea together, and the boys went down to the pictures in town in the evening. 26/04/1951 Goethals (under 14) came to play us this afternoon. We won fairly comfortably (Victoria 78, Goethals 41). King scored 42 himself before being bowled. A Fire Alarm practice was held this morning. J.C. results arrived this morning. All 10 passed. 27/04/1951 “Darkest Africa” Part I was shown this evening instead of tomorrow because Dow Hill are in quarantine for measles and the picture will have to be shown there tomorrow. 29/04/1951 Education films shown this evening after dinner. 3/05/1951 Ascension Thursday. Our under 15 played North Point in Darjeeling. We scored 116 and North Point scored 120 for 5. We have been having a lot of thunderery rain, and it is fairly cold for the time of the year. The cuckoo, which was heard for the first time on April 1st has not come into his own at all this year. He is to be heard only for a few minutes in the early morning, but his all-day sessions have not materialised. 5/05/1951 An inch of rain and a fierce hail storm last night. A little rain this afternoon. Educational films tonight. 6/05/1951 Goethals played us here in cricket and lost. As the first innings was over very early, a second innings was played. Our under 14 went down to Goethals to play the return match and were badly beaten. 7/05/1951 Mr Staynor, the Inspector of A-Indian Schools arrived to inspect our private accounts and attend a Governing Body Meeting. 11/05/1951 A meeting of the Governing Body was held here this morning. 12/05/1951 North Point played our school XI here today. It was a close and interesting match. Score North point 81, Victoria 94. In the evening “Green Dolphin Street” was shown. A warm, sunny day. 14/05/1951 The J.C. detailed results arrived, and were excellent with several “As” in Arithmetic, Mathematics, Chemistry, and Geography. The History results alone were poor, half the class failing. N. Pemba stood 2nd in Bengal. A. Shumshere-ud-din 6th in Bengal.. Only one of the 10 did not come within the first 30. 19/05/1951 Educational films were to have been shown this evening after dinner, but I cancelled the performance and put the boys into prep instead, because as I was going down to attend the cinema show I heard a lot of cheering from the vicinity of the day lavatories. I wondered what the reason for this was, and was on the way to enquire when a little boy informed me that there was a fight on between two of the middle sized boys . On my arrival what was my disgust and horror to find among the spectators, Mr xxxx Paras removed. The prefects in a body came in, after I had pitched into them, to apologise and assure me there would not be a recurrence. 21/05/1951 The First term examinations began this morning. 24/05/1951 H.E.
the Governor of West Bengal Dr. K.N. Katju, visited the school at 10.15
am and remained till 11 am. He saw the Commercial, had tea in the Headmaster’s
House and then dropped into the Assembly Hall to see the school at their
examinations. He was very pleased with all he saw and more than once
remarked, “This is an excellent institution”. On leaving the Assembly Hall where the boys were of course, as quiet as mice, he turned to his party and smilingly said, “There’s no likelihood of brickbats being thrown here at the invigilators.” 25/05/1951 A
number of boys go home for the three day post examination holidays.
“Marx Brothers at the Circus” shown at 5.30 pm. 26/05/1951 The whole school went down to the Plaza Cinema to see “The Kid from Texas.” 27/05/1951 The monsoon clouds and rain in the morning though the meteorologists said in the papers only yesterday that the monsoon had not yet broken in Columbo! 29/05/1951 A whole holiday because of the brilliant Junior Cambridge results. The final match in the House Cricket Tournament was played in the morning. Irvine (Seniors) beat Mallory, thus winning the tournament. The afternoon was taken up with football on all three fields. 30/05/1951 The new xxxx Master who has been given married quarters in the old Dhobi Khana in Dow Hill asked me if he could be let off Duty because he is afraid to walk back through the forest after doing his round of the dormitories. These are the men we are now being sent as educators of our boys. Ye Gods! What has Victoria done to deserve this! 1/06/1951 The Hon’ble Minister for Agriculture, West Bengal, visited us this afternoon during a thunder storm. 3/06/1951 Mr Bloud gave a very interesting talk on “Football” 8/06/1951 A Commercial boy enters hospital with measles. 9/06/1951 “Young Tom Edison” was shown this evening. 10/06/1951 Educational films of a most interesting nature were shown this evening. 16/06/1951 “When Knights were Bold” was shown today. 23/06/1951 “It Happened in Brooklyn” was shown this evening. 24/06/1951 A Balloon Debate was held this evening. Quite a few Commercial boys are down with measles. 26/06/1951 First XI beats St Alphonsus (2 – 0) in soccer. 29/06/1951 A wet evening. Our Second XI beats St Alphonsus 2nd XI by 3 – 0. This game was followed by a match between a Staff XI and St Alphonsus. The former won 4 – 0. No boxing. Educational films were shown. 30/06/1951 A wretched wet day. The film did not arrive. So Mr Bloud gave a second of his talks on “Football” at 6.45 pm. 1/07/1951 A fierce gale with driving rain all day. Fr. A. Bakewell S.J. of St Mary’s and of the American Geographical Society gave a very interesting talk this evening on his recent expedition to the foot of Mt Everest. 2/07/1951 Heavy rain continued all last night and all this morning. School leaking very badly. “Captain Boycott” was shown this evening. 5/07/1951 The sun peeped out this afternoon after weeks; so a half holiday was given. 7/07/1951 Our 1st XI went up to Darjeeling to play North Point in Soccer and were beaten 4 – 2. “The Beginning of the End” was shown in the evening. 8/07/1951 A fairly nice day after a very wet morning. A Balloon debate at night. [What is a balloon debate? Editor] 9/07/1951 A lovely morning when the snows were visible. A whole holiday. 10/07/1951 Goethals played us here in
soccer and beat us very easily (3 – 0), though there was no score
in the first half. Rev. Solomon gave a pianoforte recital which was much enjoyed. 21/07/1951 “Dragon Seed” was shown today. 22/07/1951 A Balloon Debate was held. 28/07/1951 “Francis the Mule, Talks” was shown today. 3/08/1951 The House Tournaments in Soccer ended this evening with Irvine winning. 1/08/1951 “The Man-Eater of Kumaon” was shown today. 5/08/1951 A Balloon Debate was held. 7/08/1951 I returned from Calcutta whither I had been called to sit on a Selection Board to select a Hindi Teacher for Victoria. 10/08/1951 Our wonderful weather which began about a fortnight ago continues. It looks as if the monsoon were petering out. 11/08/1951 “Edward my Son” sent by air from Calcutta on Monday 6th had not yet arrived, so could not be shown this evening. 15/08/1951 Independence Day! A holiday. Rain all morning. "Edward My Son" arrived this afternoon and was shown this evening. The boys did not care for it much. 20/08/1951 Second Term exams begin. 23/08/1951 The first Hockey match of the season (against Goethals 1st XI) had to be called off because of heavy rain. 24/08/1951 Yesterday’s
game was played this evening on a wet ground. Goethals won Boys are unable to go home because our quarantine continues. A Whist Drive and a Ping Pong match between Stds IV and V occupied this evening. 25/08/1951 “Tarzan and His Mate” was screened this evening. Rain all day. 26/08/1951 Rain all day. Rev. Solomon gave us a recital of gramophone records this evening. 27/08/1951 Still wet. It has been a bad week-end – the first really monsoonish weather since the first week of July. House picnics had, naturally, to be abandoned; but the eats were given to the boys at tea instead. The winning Houses offered to share their “prize tea” with the rest of the school. A very interesting programme of Educational films in the evening. 28/08/1951 Goethals 2nd XI beat us on our ground this evening. 29/08/1951 Twice within the last month I have had to cane two boys for obscene writings and drawings. On both occasions they have been Indians – one a boy of 15 and the other a boy of 10 !!! 30/08/1951 Goethals played us in hockey this evening on our ground. Their Under 15 beat ours (1 – 0) and their Under 12 drew with ours. 31/08/1951 Inter-House Boxing Finals were held this evening. Frs. Murphy, Beach and Magrath judged. Mallory were 1st., Irvine 2nd and Kellas 3rd. the Most Scientific Boxers and the Best Losers were: Seniors: E. Redman and N.
Roberts 1/09/1951 St Alphonsus drew (2 – 2) this evening with our 1st XI (including Staff) The film “East Side of Heaven” was to have been shown this evening. It is at the Ry Station but would not be given to us even on an Indemnity Bond because we had not the Ry receipt. This is the state of efficiency we have to put up with here. 2/09/1951 It really looks as if the monsoon were petering out. Night before last there was a typical end of the rains storm and this morning was beautifully bright; so clear in fact, that the boys asked if forest walks were to be permitted today. By 10.30 am, however, the mist had come up again. 7/09/1951 Out of quarantine at last and the whole school attended a Concert given by Dow Hill in aid of the Davies Primary school. 8/09/1951 Dow Hill came over the first time for months to see “Under Nevada Skies”. 15/09/15951 “East Side of Heaven” could not be shown because of the faulty film. It is just as well we had ready for screening another two films – “The Man on the Beat” from the British Council and “The Great Game of Soccer” a magnificent educational film on soccer from Allahabad. 20/09/1951 The House Tournaments in Hockley ended today with all three Houses equal – a unique ending. 21/09/1951 To finish the Hockey Season three class matches have been arranged : 5 Vs 6, 7 Vs 8, and 2 Vs 3 (a weakened side). The first two were played this evening, 6 beating 5 and 7 and 8 drawing. The second Standard who were given a handicap of 1 goal beat the third (2 – 1) and so won the Chocolate Cake. 23/09/1951 The Catholic boys went to Woodcot for their annual picnic. I went out there in the afternoon and found all having a very enjoyable outing. 27/19/1951 The Dress Rehearsal for our concert was held this evening, Goethals (80 boys) and the Dow Hill Juniors school attending. 28/09/1951 Dow Hill Seniors and over 60 visitors attended our Concert which was a huge success, several people finding the 2 hours too short. 29/09/1951 A wonderful day, and just as well, for we are on 4 days holidays. Several boys have gone home and 25 scouts have gone to camp. 2/10/1951 The last day of the holidays and a wretched wet day. Our boys attended the Goethals Concert. Last evening “China Seas” was shown and on Sunday Sept 30th some very interesting Educational films. 4/10/1951 The whole school attended Speech Day at Dow Hill. Another wet day. 5/10/1951 The final debate of the year was held this evening with Frs. Beach, McGrath and Del Marmel (?) judging. The Senior Girls of Dow Hill and a few members of their and our staff were present. Michael Drake was adjudged the Best Speaker in the Senior Division and Lewis Hardy in the Junior. The motion was “Games should not be compulsory in school.” 6/10/1951 Poojah Holidays commenced at 1 pm today. 80 boys attended the Goethals Sports. Our Relay Team was beaten in the evening. 7/10/1951 A wretched wet morning. First Communion in our R.C. Chapel for Denis Gough of Victoria and 5 Dow Hill children. Later, the day improved and the afternoon was quite warm. 8/10/1951 A lovely warm sunny day. A Whist Drive at night. 10/10/1951 The warm bright spell continues. A pagal gymkhana for Stds 2, 3, 4 at 5 pm. 11/10/1951 The whole school went down to the Plaza Cinema to see “The Buccaneers” at 10 am. 12/10/1951 School picnic in the afternoon. The bright sunshine deserted us. 13/10/1951 “Mrs Parkinson” was screened this evening. 14/10/1951 The boys out for the Poojahs return at 4.30 pm. 15/10/1951 A very warm morning. The Heats were run off today 16/10/1951 The D.P.I. visited the school this afternoon. We had fairly heavy rain last night which damaged the flat slightly. 18/10/1951 The Finals of the Education Competition were held this afternoon. Mrs Solomon, Fr. Daly and Fr. Del Marmee(?) judged. 20/10/1951 A wretched monsoon morning with fog and rain. There seemed no possibility of holding our Sports in the afternoon. But at 10.30 am it cleared and the afternoon was ideal for a Sports Meeting. Lt Col. Hannagan presided and Mrs Hannagan gave away the prizes. The events were keenly contested though no records were broken. We beat Goethals easily in the Open to Schools 220 yards “A”. 22/10/1951 Paras removed. I have written to the Inspector, however, informing him of this man’s behaviour and asking for his removal at the end of Term. 24/10/1951 Speech day with H.E. Dr. Katju, Governor of West Bengal, presiding. A very nice successful day. The Governor had tea with the Prefects in the boys’ dining room. 25/10/1951 This evening a parent of one of the Second Standard boys reported to me that the xxxx Teacher (Mr xxxx) had slapped her son’s face in class and that her son, who was otherwise very happy in school, was naturally afraid and wanted to drop xxxx. I assured her the matter would be looked into and that it would never occur again. 26/10/1951 I called Mr xxxx into my office this morning. He admitted he had slapped the boy. I gave him very plainly to understand there must not be a recurrence. 27/10/1951 Dow Hill Sports. The whole school attended. After tea the above parent again spoke to me about our xxxx Teacher and said that the above incident was not an isolated case but that she was given to understand that this teacher had on more than one occasion punished boys in a “sadistic” (sic) manner. I have therefore decided to follow up my verbal warning with a written warning to ensure that no further bullying of youngsters will occur. 31/10/1951 M. Khan, S. Herbert and ………… were confirmed today, together with a few Dow Hill girls by Bishop Bryan. 2/11/1951 The half year Governing Body Meeting was held today in Dow Hill. 7/11/1951 Mr John Sterling arrived this afternoon and examined three of our boys – Michael Drake, Jeremy Drake, and Anthony Drake – for Grade III and II of the Associated Board of Music. 9/11/1951 Mr Staynor inspected Victoria today. [Mr Staynor signed the Diary. Editor] 17/11/1951 The whole school attended an aerobatic and juggling performance given by Capt. Armstrong and his troupe at Dow Hill. 19/11/1951 Our Final Exams commenced this morning. Burglars broke into several places in the school last night, and stole such things as eggs, sugar, oranges etc., from the pantries. 24/11/1951 Bonfire and Farewell Dinner. While at dinner I was called away to be told that a thief had been caught at the Commercial Dormitory by the policeman on duty but had escaped after beating up the policeman. Nothing, luckily had been stolen. 25/11/1951 The first party in the charge of Messrs Higgins and Ghosh left at 8 30 am. A few boys left by air. 26/11/1951 The second party in the charge of Mr Bloud left at 8.30 am. A few more boys left this afternoon by air. The Senior Cambridge Exams commenced with Rev. J. Stevens S.J. supervising. 2/12/1951 I was told this morning that a thief had visited the Senior dormitory last night and tried to break the lock of one of the boys’ boxes. The boy awoke and the thief got away through a window. We are having wonderful weather. 3/12/1951 The concession form for our Senior Cambridge party, who leave on December 7th not having been received, we telegraphed on Saturday to the A.T.S. Siliguri. He phoned me this morning to say he had sent the Form on Nov. 26th. This is how our postal services are working these days. Not half of our unregistered letters reach us. How can we be expected to carry on business? I have complained to the Postmaster General once again, but it is quite useless: nothing is ever done. 7/12/1951 The Senior Cambridge boys left this morning in the charge of Mr Murray-Smith who after 8 years service, including 6 very successful years as Science Master, here has resigned because his post has been advertised and is to be filled by an M.Sc. The last time the post was advertised he was not even called for interview. But the 1st. Class M.Sc’s who were, were one and all found unsuitable. So good luck to them! 19/12/1951 I have today written to Mr xxxx who took the first party down and who sent me a statement of his accounts showing an expenditure on coolies and tea only of Rs. 100/- !! Mr Bloud who took the second party down spent only Rs. 26/6/- I have therefore written to Mr xxxx and asked him to check his accounts and to send me a revised statement together with Cash memos for the teas. This is a most unreliable man and will, in no circumstances whatsoever, be given charge of any money again. I would not have this time either, but with Mr xxxx away in Calcutta sitting for his M.A. Exam in History I was left no option. Such is the state of our staff now ! 20/12/1951 In obedience to the D.P.I.’s new order that the Heads of these two schools must not do their work during the vacation, I handed over the office today to Mr. Paine.
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