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The Head Teachers

My grandfather, in his book, "Records of Hooe", wrote a few paragraphs on the head teachers who preceded him and I give the extract, below:

"The Head Teachers"

John Psarea Hunt was appointed in 1864, and was succeeded by Edward North, Fred Hewlett, Isaac Winchester, Robert Atkins, Richard Eager, Charles Woodcock and Thomas Badcock (who left in 1878).

Woodcock was master for four years, the others about 18 months each.

Joseph Ride! began duties in March, 1878, and remained for six and a quarter years. His successors were George Bulbrook, Charles Smith, Henry Foord, John Phillips and Godfrey Wolfe, who each stayed about two years.

John J. Newport was appointed in May, 1895, and continued to October, 1920 (25 years), and was succeeded by Arthur G. Fuller.

On 24th February, 2004, I found out from where my grandfather had got some of his information. I went to Lewes Record Office and decided to have a look through the earliest "School Log Book" they had (their reference number PAR 382/25/1/1) and searched for all entries that, I felt, should begin something like - ", Fred Bloggs, today commenced as Head Teacher"- and I found them.

Because the first log book starts in 1871, I was unable to find anything to do with John Psara Hunt and those who came before that date.

There must have been an earlier log book because my grandfather quotes extracts from it. I did, however, find all the entries from 1871 onwards, and these I give below.

When reading the log books it became apparent that the head teachers always felt that they were not being supported by the school managers and were continually battling parents and truancy. They were criticised for not achieving the results expected while equipment was in short supply, and pupil attendance very low due to truancy, illness, parents who hadn't got the money to pay for a day's schooling, and the, inevitable, days of for various "treats", fairs, outings, harvesting, and others. Until 1902, teachers were paid according to the number of pupils attending so they must have sometimes found it difficult to manage.

The names of several Head Teachers who taught at the school at an eralier time than that of the log books held in the Record Office, appear in various directories and these, I give first.

The Melville & Co. directory of 1858 lists, "Chapman, Miss, National School"

1871 February 28th.

"I, Richard William Eager, from the Training College, Winchester, commenced duties as master of this school. Forty-nine presenting the morning. The progress of the children gave me satisfaction."

1876 October 2-6

"I, Thomas Badcock, Probationer, commenced my duties as Master of this School. The attendance was not large, as many children are out blackberrying."

Mr & Mrs Maning called, and Miss Maning called to assist with sewing. The usual routine followed."

1878 March 25-29

"I, Joseph Ridel, Probationer, commenced my duties as Master of this school. The attendance on Monday was very bad in consequence of the snow. It improved towards the end of the week."

1884 June 23rd

"I, this day, took charge of the school."

"George Thomas Bulbrook.
Certificated Master 2nd Class
Mrs Bulbrook Art. 84

1886 September 6th

Mr Bulbrook, having left, the underwritten staff took charge.
Chas Saml Thos Smith, Certificated 1st Class (Principal)
Frances Mary Ann Smith, Certificated 3rd Class (Infants and Sewing)

1892 Wednesday March 30th

"Venit extrema dia". After five and a half years service, I, Charles Samuel Thomas Smith, give up the charge of Hooe School and retire from the profession. The Government report was handed to me last night. A copy will be found on the next page.

"Othello's occupation's gone".

[My note: - The examination results were not good and I think that Mr Smith had had enough; that he had met the same problems of poor attendance, poor management, and unfair criticism that his predecessors had and his successors would, including, later, my grandfather. I don't know for certain, of course, that Mr. Smith had really had enough but from previous entries of his I don't think that he was only pleased to be retiring - I think there was more to it than that!

His "Venit extrema dia" which, I believe, from what I remember of my school-boy latin, means "The day has come to an end" and you can hear the sound of relief in that short phrase - or, perhaps, I'm imagining it.

When, Othello (in Shakespeare's play of the same name) says, "Othello's occupation's gone" it's because of his wife's adultery; he feels betrayed by her and has lost the position he once held in her life.

Did Mr Smith feel relieved that he was leaving a job that he had found very difficult to cope with, because of "betrayal" from both managers and parents, or was he sad at leaving a position he liked? I don't know but I get this feeling that he was far from unhappy in leaving the School

1892 Monday April 4th

"H. J. Foord took charge of this school today, with his wife as Infant and Sewing Mistress."

1893 February 24th

"I, H. J. Foord, resigned charge of this school today. I beg to note that the Standard children were presented in the following subjects" - (the entry then goes on to give a list of the children.)

1893 March 1st

"J. W Phillips took charge of this school to-day. This morning being stormy only 30 children were present and these were sent home. In he afternoon so few were present that no school was held."

1893 May 19th

"School broke up for a week's holiday, Whit week. Mr. J. W. Phillips left today."

Mr Phillips didn't stay long but there is no clue as to why. There is one thing worth noting, however, which is that teachers, at that time, were paid for each child who attended and not paid for those absentees and the attendences had been remarkably poor for some time.

1893 May 24th.

"I, Godfry Wolfe, took charge of the School to-day with Mrs Wolfe (Art 68) and G. G. Wolfe (paid monitor) as Staff."

Though Mr Godfrey Wolfe hadn't left yet, he must have advised the School managers of his decision to leave bevause they started interviewing candidates for the post, as the next entry shows.

1895 April 30th

"The managers met this afternoon at the School. Mr Newport, a Candidate for the mastership, also visited and was taken by the master to view the School Cottage." This candidate was my grabndfather, aged just twenty-eight.

1895 May 24th

"I concluded my mastership of this school this day."

[JWN's Note. The above entry was the last one in the Hooe School Log Book, made by Godfrey Wolfe . In 1902, a Lincolnshire newspaper reported that Godfrey Wolfe had died of exposure under tragic circumstances. He had gone up to Billinghay to take up the positon as headmaster of the Board Schools and was, apparentally, very successful. Follow this LINK to read the report]

I didn't look for the head teachers who followed my grandfather, from 1920 onward, as this was getting too far up-to-date but, perhaps, I will later.

What I would like to know is, if John Psarea Hunt was appointed in 1864, was he the first head teacher? The school was built in 1846, but were there any head teachers or even teachers, between then and the appointment of Mr. Hunt?

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