| Description | 9/3/1905-1/5/1905
Thomas Boyd [?] to Thomas Hector esq., King Street Public School, Whether to admit Christina Hogg (12), a blind pupil, 16th Mar 1905.
Thomas Hynd [?] to Thomas Hector Esq., King Street Public School, parents of Bella Hepburn asking for the board’s sanction to admit their daughter to the school, 17 Apr 1905.
Thomas Hynds [?] to Thomas Hector, Esq., King Street Public School, number of pupils over age of 12 (school leaving age) in attendance at the school, 19 Apr 1905.
Morland Simpson to Hector Esq., Aberdeen Grammar School, Pupil Donald Lowe to be entered into the Gaelic Higher Grade examination, 28 April 1905.
Morland Simpson to Hector Esq., Aberdeen Grammar School, Pupil Robert Leslie to have application submitted to be entered into leaving certificate, after returning to the school after a term of ‘private “coaching”, 25 Apr 1905.
Morland Simpson to Mr Finlayson, Aberdeen Grammar School, Need new boxing gloves for Gymnastic [?], 11 Apr 1905.
Thomas Rose to Thomas Hector Esq., Causewayend Public School, Miss Milne and Miss May in dispute over sewing lesson specimens and need the board to arbitrate the dispute, 12 Apr 1905.
William McClean to Mr hector, Kittybrewster Public School, Gymnasium to be used for concert for Library Fund, 23 Mar 1905.
William McLean to Mr Finlayson, Kittybrewster Public School, Swimming days and hours to be settled, 14 Apr 1905.
William McLean to Mr Hector, Kittybrewster Public School, To use cooking room as the infants classroom due to large numbers in intake, 11 Apr 1905.
William Mclean to Mr Hector, Kittybrewster Public School, Trying to takeover the use of a swimming pool used by another school (Walker Road) as the baths are a ‘good distance’ away, 16 Mar 1905.
William McLean to Mr Hector, Kittybrewster Public School, Gives numbers of pupils aged over 12 years who wish to take part in a gymnastic display, 19 Apr 1905.
William Hendry report to the board, Causewayend Public Evening School, report 1904-05 highlighting the need to reinstate the woodwork class due to loss of 20 pupils, 1905.
Elizabeth D hisleet[?] to Thomas Hector Esq., Torry Public School, Two swimming classes have been arranged, 7 Apr 1905.
Elizabeth D Hisleet to Thomas Hector Esq., Torry public School, infants numbers at 262 and require re-allocation of the teaching staff due to this, 24 Mar 1905.
Elizabeth D Hisleet to Thomas Hector Esq., Torry public School, 124 pupils over 12- they are not allowed to take part in a Gymnastics display, 18 Apr 1905.
W Keith MacGreggor to Miss Reid and Gentlemen, Evening Constabulary Class, Central School, Asks that that they might take part in Police Evening School Concert, like Torryhill Public School, 25 Mar 1905.
Charles McLeod to Mr Hector, thanking the board for the use of a room (and apparatus) for his speech to the Philosophical Society, 31 Mar 1905.
John M Bain to ?, High School For Girls, hours of Latin and Greek classes required, 13 Mar 1905.
J McGreggor to Thomas Hector, Eq., Old Aberdeen Public School, To refuse admission to pupils despite there still being spaces, 28 Apr 1905.
John M Bain to ?, High School For Girls, Details careers of Miss Leadingham and Miss Daniel for consideration of the board, 26 Apr 1905.
John McKenzie to ?, Ashely Road School, number of kids over 12, who could be put forward for the gymnastics display, 19 Sep 1905.
Alexander Moodie to Thomas Hector, Esq., Woodside Evening School, With report of 1904-05 including details of attendance, issue with those whose fees are paid for by Messrs Crombie Grandholm, and occupation of pupils, 11 Apr 1905.
W Reilly MacGreggor to Miss Reid and Gentlemen, Report of Evening Schools’ Committee of Aberdeen school Board, Report of City Constabulary Classes including class sizes and subjects, 1904-1905.
Jas Macleod to Miss Reid and Gentlemen, Central Sewing School, Report for 1905-5 including class sizes as per subject, 1904-5.
J Mackay to T Hector esq., Higher Grade School, Wanting the board’s approval for a six-month residency in Germany to perfect his grasp of the language at, it appears, the board’s expense (already approved by his headmaster), 20 Apr 1905.
D B Lothian to Thomas Hector, Esq., St Clement Street Public School, Lacks facilities to be able to participate in Gymnastics display, 18 Apr 1905.
William A. Keys to members of the School Board, Central School, details his career in application for Second Master in the Central School, 25 Feb 1905.
William Johnston to Board, Ferryhill Evening School, Report on Session’s Work including attendance and class sizes, 1904-1905.
John R. Jack to Thomas Hector Esq., Walker Road Public School, Asks for the Board’s attention to the Girls playground that has become eroded, and consequentially, very muddy, 6 Apr 1905.
John R. Jack to?, Walker Road Public School, Numbers of children over 12 years who could participate in the park Gymnastics Display (details resources) and does ‘not care to be held responsible for the safe conduct of the children to the Park’, 19 Apr 1905.
George Hendry to ?, Asks if School Board appoints teachers with MA qualification and supports them whilst working towards a BSc qualification, 21 Apr 1905.
William Hendry to Thomas Hector Esq., Westfield Public School, Gives numbers available for Pittodrie Park Gymnastic display, 17 Apr 1905.
J d Henderson to ?, Ferryhill Public School, Asking for material to assist with a blind pupil and hopes to claim a grant, 17 Apr 1905.
W Fyfe to Thomas Hector Esq., Woodside Public School, Praises Miss Emily Mackie (teacher) and asks that she be given a pay rise, 31 Mar 1905.
George Fenton to Convenor and Members of the Evening Schools Committee, Kittybrewster Evening School, Report for the year including pupil class sizes, subjects and pupil’s employment, 1904-5.
Alexander Forbes to Thomas Hector Esq., Holburn Street School, About troublemaker pupil Frank Howat, who is described as ‘lazy and would shirk work if he hoped to get off with it’, 24 Apr 1905.
James Findlay to Thomas Hector Esq., Number of pupils over 12 and those to take part in Gymnastic Display, 19 Apr 1905.
W Fye to Thomas Hector, Gives number of pupils over 12 but does not think they can take part in the Gymnastic Display, 19 Apr 1905.
James Dawson to Members of the Aberdeen School Board, Central Higher Grade School, Application for Second Mastership position, detailing his career and why they should choose him over Mr Keys, 11 Mar 1905.
William B Duguid to ?, Skene Square Evening School, Report including class sizes and pupils occupations, 1904-05.
James Carmichael to Members of the School Board, Letter detailing his qualifications and career to justify why he should have a pay rise, April 1905.
J T Cruickshank to Thomas Hector Esq., Mile-End Public School, Discusses Miss Maggie Monro’s time with the school as an assistant and why she should be promoted because of this- and because ‘She is a Monro’ (emphasis on 1st ‘o’), 27 Apr 1905.
• Patrick G Allan, 56 Devonshire Road, Aberdeen. 17th Apr 1905. Has written a report, enclosed (6 pages), for the Board’s attention in response to the unfavourable one about his work written by Mr [H F Morlund] Simpson [of Aberdeen Grammar School] for the High Schools Committee. Allan’s report seeks to ameliorate the damage of this by pointing out Simpson formed his impression from a bundle of incompletely marked work for one subject only. Admits the second charge of uncorrected mistakes in French classes but accuses Simpson of having done worse himself. Expands on the difficulties he has faced teaching this session (class numbers and arrangements – partially blames Simpson). Also has several “backward” or “defective” pupils. Expands on his teaching method for Geography classes. Gives the breakdown of class hours with different subjects and teachers.
• J D Anderson, Ferryhill Public School. 18th Apr 1905. Gymnastic Display. Could send 200 pupils. Believes the only safe way to get them to Pittodrie would be to march them there but believes most of the pupils would find more convenient ways themselves. Those over 12 years old would have little difficulty escorting themselves.
• John C Anderson, Higher Technical Institute School for Women, Girls’ High School. Undated. 6 page report on the 1904-1905 evening classes session. Most of the work was commercial or domestic and while the number of individual enrolments stayed roughly the same (985), the number of subject enrolments did considerably fall (1484). Table enclosed gives the classes, their enrolments at start and end of session. Detailed reports are given to the numbers of pupils enrolled in multiple subjects, the efficacy of subjects, the attendances in different classes, the fees returned, the number and value of the certificates handed out. Difficulties with the Shorthand, Typing, and Needlework classes are discussed. Believes the Book-Keeping and French classes should be given more hours.
• John C Anderson, Girls’ High Evening School. 25th Mar 1905. Apologises for a mistake in hours of attendance reported to the Board for teacher Miss Violet May.
• John C Anderson, High Evening School. 12th Apr 1905. Letter concerns a pupil, Jessie Reid of 6 Regent Quay, who has missed many attendances in Dressmaking and Cookery which would disallow her. Has found a discrepancy in the class registers which concerns him, suggesting that she has been mixed up with another girl of the same name. Jessie Reid’s Girls High School Continuation Classes card has been stapled to the back of the letter.
• John C Anderson, High Evening School. 15th Apr 1905. Return of Fees. Has been investigating the non-return of fees and has found similarities among all the cases (for Cookery, Dressmaking, and Needlework). These classes were only attended one or two nights for the 10 pupils. Previously he had allowed reduced attendances when presented with good reasons and it appears this term that the pupils assumed this arrangement was still in place or otherwise forgot. They otherwise all have good attendances and would be entitled to return of fees.
• M K Bain, 336 Holburn Street. 15th Apr 1905. Application to transfer to the High School’s Music teaching staff. Believes Ashley Road School will not be able to fully employ music staff owing to the reduction in pupil numbers. Has spent over 11 years teaching there.
• James C Barnett, 31 Belvidere Street, Aberdeen. 5th Apr 1905. Dinners. The last ‘cheap dinner’ has been served this season (since 19th Dec) – 43 children had soup and bread on the final day. In total 3751 dinners have been served and £11 5s 8d paid in, giving a surplus of 8d. They cost each child a little under 3/4d and the average number of takers was 54. Mondays were the worst days and Fridays the best. Effusively describes the lengths taken to get the children to eat their vegetables. The girls “enjoyed their work greatly” by serving the meals and cleaning up. Notes that some of the poorest families did not take up the offer, perhaps as it was too expensive for them.
• James C Barnett, The Head Teacher, Middle Public School. 19th Apr 1905. Gymnastic Display. All children over 12 years of age receive the new drill scheme. A special training regime will need to be implemented should the Board wish 20 of these pupils to feature in the display. The main difficulty would be providing a suitable uniform as the parents will object to the expense and the cost would fall largely to the teacher. “We would not like... to see our children looking poorly clad, beside their more highly favoured brethren of the West End”. This difficulty limits the number available.
• James Campbell, Marywell Street Public School. 22nd Mar 1905. Note for the sending of Merit Certificates of pupils Catherine Gordon, Maggie Westland, William Mitchell, and George Arthur.
• James Campbell, Marywell Street Public School. 31st Mar 1905. Thomas Dudyear (b. 24.10.1897, residing 176 Crown Street) is a contender for Beech Lodge School owing to his difficulty in speaking (“an affliction of the wires of the nerves of the throat and tongue, and he appears in some measure to have paralysis along the left side”).
• James Campbell, Marywell Street Public School. 19th Apr 1905. Gymnastic Display. Has asked only boys for this (66). He and the Second Master will oversee their safe journey to the grounds where they will be transferred into the care of the Gymnastic Club.
• James Campbell, Marywell Street Public School. 24th Apr 1905. Admission of Infant Pupils. Incudes a table giving the number of school places, numbers on roll, and average attendances. Notes the tenement in the school’s vicinity has been reduced in occupancy leading to a fall in pupil numbers. Queries the Board’s recent decision to limit infant registrations until August as there are many new arrivals to the district who will be unable to secure places for their children who will be free “to run the streets” until then. Meanwhile the number of pupils attending the school has fallen from 180 to 124.
• James Campbell, Marywell Street Public School. 25th Apr 1905. Asks if Thomas Dudgeon [see Ellen Greenwells’ letter 15th Apr 1905] can be removed from his register as he is trialling at Beech Lodge.
• Duncan Clarke, Commerce Street Public School. 19th Apr 1905. Gymnastic Display. As the school does not have an instructor in this subject, he expects the exercises will be very difficult for the students. Believes that out of 51 boys and 58 girls, a team of 12 each could be formed. Unable to oversee them as they travel to the grounds.
• Duncan Clarke, Commerce Street Public School. 19th Apr 1905. School Library. Over £5 worth of books has been added to the library due to local efforts. Asks the Board to honour its promise of help.
• Alice Craig, 13 Richmond Terrace, Aberdeen. 6th Apr 1905. Applies for a transfer from Marywell Street Public School due to health reasons. States she has worked there 8 years 10 months.
• Bessie Crombie, 3 Millburn Street, Aberdeen. 12th Apr 1905. Notes she attained Second Division places in the 1st and 2nd year’s Certificate Examination papers.
• John F Cruickshank, Mile-End Public School. 27th Apr 1905. The Board’s recent decision to change the Music Fee rates will lead to a big increase in the workload of Miss Mutch. She began with under 12 pupils and now has 25 (5 above the usual number). As a large proportion of them are beginners she estimates she will lose out about £10 in fees. Asks for Miss Mutch to be given a salary of £60.
• J F Cruickshank, Mile-End Public School. 28th Apr 1905. Has heard Miss Mutch complaining about the new pay rates, that she “will resign as it is not worth her pains”. [see John F Cruickshank letter 27th Apr 1905]. [Middle section of letter unclear, seems like he disagrees or believes she is mistaken in her beliefs or understanding of the matter]. Thinks it best that she be asked how she feels.
• A Green, Skene Square Public School. 28th Mar 1905. Gives commentary on a note of complaint received from a parent, apparently about a missing cloak. Alleges the father wrote to him in “an insolent threatening tone” which delayed his reply. Hopes it can still be recovered and was likely lost on the way to or from school due to carelessness, or left in the playground or lobbies of the school. Put the case “to the [police] detectives” who did not have luck finding it. Daily searches for it have also failed. A postscript notes his disbelief of the cloak’s alleged value. [See also A Green 11th Apr 1905].
• A Green, Skene Square Public School. 11th Apr 1905. Gives information surrounding the complaint of Mr Johnston, 111 Gerard Street over the loss of a garment [appears to be the same one referenced in A Green letter of 28th Mar 1905]. The letter is no longer on hand but alleges three other teachers can vouch to its threatening tone. It did not ask for a reply but it did threaten an appeal to the school board.
• A Green, Skene Square Public School. 19th Apr 1905. Proposed Gymnastic Display. Needs more information before he can give a number of pupils willing to take part. Three main difficulties occur to him. 1. What expenses will there be for the pupils, particularly uniforms. 2. Special instructors will have to be brought in to teach the exercises beforehand. 3. If not done outside school time the event will lead to timetabling problems for which the Board should accept responsibility. Can only promise “the exercise of ordinary precaution” in getting the pupils to the park.
• Ellen Greenwells, Oral School for Deaf and Dumb, Beech Lodge. 15th Apr 1905. Thomas Dudgeon has attended the school every day of the past week but is not a suitable case as he is not deaf and has a “very feeble intellect”.
• Ellen Greenwells, Oral School for Deaf and Dumb, Beech Lodge. 17th Mar 1905. Asks for the piano to be tuned and enquires about holiday dates. Does not believe the current arrangement will allow the pupils who board with the school to return in time for classes.
• Ellen Greenwells, Oral School for Deaf and Dumb, Beech Lodge. 6th Apr 1905. Prefers to use the language of ‘Beginners’ over ‘Juniors’ as the former are not in every case younger than the more advanced pupils.
• D A Farquhar, Craigton School, Peterculter, Aberdeen. 11th Mar 1905. Asks permission to send two pupils to a centre in Aberdeen to take their Leaving Certificate examinations.
• William Hendry, Causewayend Public Evening School. [Undated]. Report on Session 1904-05. Enrolments have considerably decreased this year due to 1. The removal of the successful Woodworking Class, 2. Lack of facilities being provided for the Domestic subjects, and 3. A decrease in the number of pupils taking Preparatory classes (though the standard of pupil there increased). Attendance was good and the Preparatory classes featured several young men considerably above the average age who made very good improvement. Asks if the Woodcarving class can be re-opened next session. The staff workload and pressure greatly increased this year while Mr Hendry had to step back due to illness. Mr Baxter’s management of the school during this interim is praised.
• Thomas C Hynd, King Street Public School. 16th Mar 1905. Christina Hogg, William’s Square. This child is blind and has received no education. She previously attended St Clement Street School but for some time has not been attending. The girl and her mother attended a meeting here and were visited at home. Miss Adams could give her extra attention for 2 hours a week. “The case is special. The mother blames the Board while I have blamed herself”.
• Thomas C Hynd, King Street Public School. 17th Apr 1905. Case of Bella Hepburn, 20 Urquhart Road. The girl (born 8th Dec 1899) was underage on first application. She applied again in January and her name was forwarded later to the office. She failed to apply again, and it was assumed she had been accepted at another school, however on Tuesday her parents asked the Board for her admission.
• Thomas C Hynd, King Street Public School. 19th Apr 1905. Circular Letter 17th April 1905. The number of pupils above 12 years of age is 180 boys and 195 girls (total 375). The exercises supposed to be done at the display house owing to limited space have been discontinued for several years. Does not believe himself responsible for the exhibitions.
• B M Kemp, Schoolhouse, Cornhill, Banff. 17th Apr 1905. Writing on behalf of her daughter Georgina A S Kemp, an ex-pupil teacher looking for a situation in town after passing her scholarship exam. Has completed the Board clerk Mr Hector’s forms but asks if Mrs Skea can also put in a word. Gives her daughter’s working history at Portsoy. B M Kemp suggests she often asks for help, referring to herself as an “ill penny”.
• W Keith Macgregor, Evening Constabulary Class, Central School. 25th Mar 1905. Mr Anderson of Ferryhill Public School has conditionally permitted a team of pupils to join the Police Evening School Concert by giving an exhibition of the Maypole Dance.
• John McBain, Aberdeen High School for Girls. 13th Mar 1905. Miss Jeanie Thomson M.A. will give 9 hours per week instruction in Latin and Mr Charles R Murray M.A. will give 8 hours per week instruction in Greek.
• John McBain, Aberdeen High School for Girls. 26th Apr 1905. Encloses remarks on two letters of application that he hopes the committee will consider. The first is for Miss Ledingham. Her Saturday class counts towards the Science Grant. The second is for Miss Daniel who does not give enough detail about her work (McBain expands on this at length). Notes that Miss Daniel raises a sum of £20 nearly every few years which is “devoted to the education of a native girl in India”.
• J McBain, The Head Teacher, Old Aberdeen Public School. 28th Apr 1905. Admission of Pupils to Infants’ Department. Will carry out the instructions given but draws attention to article 17a of the code. Asks if there are reasonable grounds to refuse admission to children given that 40 and 50 places remain vacant.
• John McKenzie, Ashley Road Public School. 19th Apr 1905. There are about 250 boys and girls over the age of 12 years, 220 of whom (90 boys and 130 girls) might be suitable for the Gymnastic Display in Pittodrie Park. Cannot undertake responsibility for the safe conduct of those children to the park.
• William D McLean, Kittybrewster Public School. 16th Mar 1905. Mr Brown, janitor of Hanover Street School, visited. He revealed that two hours are available on Saturdays for Swimming Classes. These would be advantageous for Kittybrewster pupils (far from the Baths) but does not want to usurp the privilege that might be better used by Causewayend, Nelson Street or Urquhart Road pupils. If there is no issue, however, he hopes the Board will take into consideration his past initiatives in promoting school swimming instruction.
• William D McLean, Kittybrewster Public School. 11th Apr 1905. 25 pupils have today applied to join the Infants’ Department. The number of pupils would now be 113 in Room I and 385 across the whole department. These children are all from within the school district and many of them should have been admitted much earlier. Most of them have siblings who currently attend the school. McLean wants to continue the plan that has been effect for the previous two years, that is to use the Cookery Room as an extra Infants’ classroom with an additional teacher in charge. The pressure should be relived with the Midsummer Holidays change in classes.
• William D McLean, Kittybrewster Public School. 19th Apr 1905. The school has 86 boys and 123 girls over 12 years of age who with their parents’ consent might wish to take part in the proposed Gymnastics Display. In the last year they haven’t received instruction in Musical Drill and these exercises would have been advantageous for those being considered for gymnastics, as strongly recommended by Captain Forster. Musical Drill has been the only form of physical exercise taught here in the last year. Apologises for not being able to assume any responsibility for the gymnastics event.
• William D McLean, Kittybrewster Public School. 23rd Nov 1905. Asks for permission to use the school gymnasium for a series of concerts across three evenings to raise money for the Library Fund.
• Alexander Moodie, Woodside Evening School. 11th Apr 1905. Evening School Report – Session 1904-1905 (Woodside Centre). The number of pupils declined by 45 while the separate enrolments declined by 85 (the majority due to Domestic students wanting only one subject). Attendance was good at 81.7%, however, there was a noticeable weakness in attendance from the pupils paid for by Messrs. Crombie of Grandholm. He accounts for this by the ease with which workers may join the classes but then drop off without pecuniary loss to themselves. Moodie has already proposed a plan on this front to the Crombies. A list of pupil occupations is given (the most common ones were millworkers {90} and at home {31]). The teachers have made significant advances at meeting the approval of the school inspector and carrying out the committee recommendations. Almost one third of the Preparatory pupils were advanced enough to attend a class in a Division II subject. Tables are included for class enrolments and the return of fees.
• Elizabeth D Nisbet, Torry Public School. 24th Mar 1905. Asks for one of the Junior Division staff to be transferred to the Infants’ Department as the number of pupils there has increased to 262. Requests a Certified Assistant to take charge of Junior class IIa.
• Elizabeth D Nisbet, The Head Teacher, Torry Public School. 18th Apr 1905. Gymnastic Display. The number of pupils over 12 years of age is 124. Cannot accept responsibility for the safe conduct of pupils to Pittodrie Park on the occasion referred to.
• John Peter, Hanover Street Public School. 19th Apr 1905. Gymnastic Display. 100 boys and 62 girls over 12 years of age are taught physical exercises. Under the new drill they are not being taught bar-bell exercises necessary for the display. Need special classes to that effect outside of school hours otherwise they would be of no use. Thinks it would be unfair to ask any of his staff to do this. Cannot accept responsibility to conduct the pupils to Pittodrie.
• John Peter, Hanover Street Public School. 19th Apr 1905. School Library. Asks for a donation from the Board. £11 16s 9d of books have been purchased from funds raised by the concerts and swimming galas but more books are needed to make the library serviceable.
• John Peters, St. Paul Street Evening School. Undated. Session 1904-1905. 3 page report. Pupil numbers showed a slight reduction to 263. Many pupils of “very backward” character left the sessions early when they found the work to physically demanding. Those who stayed did well with the majority gaining certificates. Notes that many who failed last year re-took them with success this year. No instances of poor behaviour reported to him. Many attendances came from former pupils or those from the Continuation Schools. The Photography class is now qualified to earn a grant which will recoup its expenses. A class breakdown is given for pupils enrolled in one, two, or three subjects (photography the largest solo, mathematics & geometry the largest duo, arithmetic, freehand & geometry the largest trio). One pupil is enrolled in four subjects (English, arithmetic, book-keeping and shorthand). The technical classes mainly had apprentices of engineers, joiners, and masons. The commercial classes mainly had employees of offices and shops or those aspiring to be.
• John Peters, The Head Teacher, Middle Public School. 17th Mar 1905. The Photography Class is not doing well with no pupils attending other classes this session despite high attendances in the last one with pupils attending other classes. Most students are old enough that their ordinary education can be considered finished. It may be possible to boost numbers by allowing attendances at half-fee or if a grant was earned.
• John Ritchie, King Street Public & Technical School. Undated. Session 1904-1905. 5 page report. The number of pupils has increased from 219 to 240. A breakdown of classes and their enrolments is provided. On average pupils took 2 classes. Industrial class enrolments were 250 and Commercial classes 195, a similar ratio of popularity to last year. The average attendances were 85.7% with 85 pupils attending all available classes. £48 total was refunded to 193 pupils (80.4%) who met the threshold attendance for return of fees. 236 pupils were scheduled for grant earnings. A list of the pupil occupations is provided, the most common being ‘in offices’. A list is given of 1st & 2nd place certificates issued for classes along with failures. Most pupils were over 16 years of age and appeared for the first time as Continuation School pupils. Two pupils were admitted from Preparatory School which begs Ritchie to question where they go afterwards. Suggests their contact details be provided to Elementary Technical Schools in future so that they can be invited to attend. Suggests alterations to the teaching of English, Arithmetic and Algebra classes.
• John Ritchie, King Street Evening School. 1st Apr 1905. Ebeneezer Duncan’s fee was withheld due to his poor attendances. He was compensated by having received 30s from the Educational Trust as a bursary student.
• Lizzie Robertson, 10 Forest Avenue, Aberdeen. Undated. Asks for a salary increase as others who entered service after her now receive higher wages. Gives her teaching history. Notes a previous headmaster had written to the Board on her behalf to get her an Honorarium for her salary but he got no reply.
• Jemima Robertson, 10 Forest Avenue, Aberdeen. 27th Mar 1905. Asks for a salary increase as she has not had one in 14 years of service with the Board at Rosemount Public School and teachers of her class appointed later are earning more. Gives her work history and believes she could easily take charge of an Infant School.
• Will Robertson, Skene Street Public School. 13th Mar 1905. Comments on the abilities of his assistant teachers. Favourable towards Miss Weir and Miss Ironside. Much less so towards temporary teacher Miss Ligertwood who is “very weak in discipline and in teaching power and I should be very sorry if her appointment is made permanent”. Wants and ex-pupil-teacher to replace her.
• Will Robertson, Skene Street Public School. 23rd Mar 1905. Due to lack of accommodation, some classes (Infants’ and Junior departments) are being undertaken at Northfield School. This will need to carry on until Skene Street School is enlarged. Asks for increases in salary for the Headmaster and Infants’ Mistress who both have resultant increases in organisational difficulties.
• Will Robertson, Skene Street Public School. 19th Apr 1905. There are 76 boys and 77 girls over 12 years of age who receive physical exercises classes. Cannot accept responsibility for their travel.
• Will Robertson, Skene Street Public School. 24th Apr 1905. Recommends pupil-teacher Miss Elizabeth Crombie to be a trained Certified teacher in the junior division as she has had full charge of a class for the past three years.
• James Rose, Causewayend Public School. 15th Mar 1905. Concerns class sizes. Miss Scorgie has assisted Mr Anderson at John Knox Hall by taking two of her classes. Sizes have recently shrunk a great deal partly due to promotion of the ‘S.C.’ and partly due to pupils leaving at age 14. The pupils left could be managed by one teacher were they not split at different levels of advancement. Recommends Miss Scorgie for emergency work although she does not seek to assist with senior classes. Mr Anderson can just about manage alone. Unsure how to proceed.
• James Rose, Causewayend Public School. 12th Apr 1905. Reports friction between his sewing mistress and one of the class teachers. This has gone on for three months and has been forced on his attention and he has had little success in obtaining peace. Now asks the Board to arbitrate due to deadlock. Miss Milne refuses to supply Miss May (of Standard IV classes) cloth to use as ‘Specimens’ as she believes Miss May uses far more of this than the other teachers. The sewing lessons are now at a standstill due to lack of material. Miss Milne claims not to have time and is not sure how much is needed anyway. Update 13th April: Miss May has not changed her answer and now has found a reason to give up her class this afternoon.
• James Rose, Causewayend Public School. 19th Apr 1905. Proposed Gymnastic Display. There are 238 pupils over 12 years of age in the 6 upper classes (122 boys and 116 girls) but none are suitable for the display as they have been working from the education department drill book which is unsuitable.
• James Rose, Causewayend Public School. 25th Apr 1905. Pupil-teacher Miss Mary A Walker has had full duty since 1902 and has shown great improvement in her work with Junior Infants.
• H F Morlund Simpson, Aberdeen Grammar School. 25th Apr 1905. Robert Leslie left the school after Christmas to receive private tuition for his preliminary Learning Certificate Exam. The department considers this circumstances of this case to be exceptional as he has attended the school irregularly from August 1898 to Christmas 1904.
• H F Morlund Simpson, Aberdeen Grammar School. 28th Apr 1905. Learning Certificate Exam. Pupil Donald N Lowe (of Killitan, Stromeferry) wants to take the Higher Grade Gaelic exam. Simpson fears this notice might be too late but it was not expected that Lowe would continue his education here after the Spring.
• J L Skea, The Head Teacher, St. Paul Street Public School. 15th Mar 1905. Having examined the school’s annual report and is pleased by the amount of income due to grants. Suggests the Board should now pay its annual contribution of £36 to the Superannuation Fund.
• J L Skea, St. Paul Street Public School. 14th Apr 1905. Asks the Board to keep a close eye this session on Causewayend School admitting Infants’ Department pupils only from its defined districts. Worried about “scholar grabbing” after Miss Smith refused pupils from Hutcheon Street but accepted ones from Seamount.
• J L Skea, The Head Teacher, St. Paul Street Public School. 18th Apr 1905. Recommends the daughter of an early former pupil-teacher of his to a teaching post: Isabella Johnstone, now Kemp, whose husband, a marine engineer, drowned on his first voyage leaving her with a young child. She needed teaching work to support both her and the baby. Believes this daughter now will be an excellent teacher like her mother.
• J L Skea, The Head Teacher, St. Paul Street Public School. 19th Apr 1905. The number of pupils available for the proposed gymnastic display at Pittodrie Park is 108 boys and 109 girls (over 12 years old). Is unable to oversee their safe conduct to the park.
• J L Skea, St. Paul Street Public School. 28th Apr 1905. Complains about the poor health of Miss Duthie as she “broke down again” and might not be fit for a long time. Wonders if Miss Bruce can be called back to take over as she is familiar with the work, particularly exams, which is becoming urgent. Whoever it is must be in some way musical, “and please don’t send a useless one”.
• P Smart, Frederick Street Public School. 19th Apr 1905. The number of pupils available for the proposed gymnastic display at Pittodrie Park is 73 boys and 57 girls. Is unable to oversee their safe conduct to the park.
• J B Spalding, The Head Teacher, York Street Public School. 17th Apr 1905. During Sunday School the school’s globe was knocked over and damaged by a student.
• J B Spalding, York Street Public School. 18th Apr 1905. None of his pupils can join the proposed gymnastic display at Pittodrie Park. The school does not have a gymnasium, and the pupils have had little opportunity to participate in that class.
• Alex. Speirs M.A., B.Sc. Undated. Asks for an increase in salary as a Master due to increased responsibility at the Middle School. Gives his work history.
• Charles Stewart, Robert Gordon’s College. 12th Apr 1905. Evening Continuation Classes Session 1904-5. 6 page report compiled for the Board. Discusses enrolment and attendance levels, causes of study (student occupations), general conduct of students, certificates, fees, and general remarks.
• William A Stormouth, Headmaster, Walker Road Evening School. Undated. Report for Session 1904-05. Four pages, itemises details given for attendance and enrolments, fees, student occupations, then discusses the attendances of Divisions I and II.
• James Sutherland, Rosemount Preparatory and Domestic School. Undated. Four page report on the evening school session. The school recently re-opened after an enlargement and renovation. Gives details on enrolments, class combinations, pupil occupations. Discusses fees paid and returned and class work.
• James Sutherland, Rosemount Evening School. 18th Mar 1905. Asks permission for the Needlework Class to use the gymnasium for a social evening of “tea and songs”.
• David Symons, 2 Cairnfield Place, Aberdeen. 10th Apr 1905. Of Central School, asks for an increase in salary. Gives his work history and lists achievements with pupil attainments. Also assists with Drawing Instruction across all the Board’s elementary schools.
• William Thompson, St. John’s Public School. 19th Apr 1905. Gymnastic Display. 15 boys and 15 girls are likely to enter this.
• Robert Valentine, Hanover Street Continuation School. Undated. Session 1904-1905 Headmaster’s Report. Four pages long, discusses attendances, enrolments, fees, certificates, difficulties with classes. Statistics given for enrolments, classes, pupil occupations.
• A G Wallace, Central School. 19th Apr 1905. No pupils can take part in the proposed gymnastic display owing to the lack of a gymnasium connected to the school.
• A G Wallace, Central School. 4th Apr 1905. Lists all the pupil-teachers who will attend the upcoming Collective Examination in May, for the attention of Mr Boyd, H.M. Inspector. 16 names provided with the schools they teach at.
• John Watson, Broomhill Evening School. Undated. Report on Broomhill Evening School. Three pages, discusses enrolments, classes, attendances, pupil occupations and fees.
• R W Watson, Broomhill Public School. 17th Apr 1905. About 250 pupils might be able to enter the Gymnastic Display at Pittodrie Park in June, however he cannot personally oversee their safe conduct to and from the site.
• R W Watson, Broomhill Public School. 31st Mar 1905. School Library. £13 was raised from the last concert. For the purchase of library books. The Board supplemented this by £5 last year which was used to purchase and repair books in the collection. Asks if the Board will repeat its grant this year.
• Alice Annie Wilson, 1 Alfred Street, Hebburn – New Town, Durham. 15th Mar 1905. Has been recently bereaved by the loss of both her parents and is returning to Aberdeen. An ex-pupil teacher, she is looking for a situation. Gives her working history including certificates passed and wages. Details testimonials she would provide later.
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