Aberdeen Education Authority: Teachers' Letters (154) Ina C Angus to Mr Dawson High School for Girls 17/12/1924 Letter applying for post as a Teacher of Domestic Subjects containing details of qualifications and previous work experience. D M Andrew to Director of Education Grammar School 21/11/1924 Letter with details of qualifications for Mr GWJ Farquharson and Mr JW Walker D M Andrew to Director of Education Grammar School 26/11/1924 Letter reporting that 14% of pupils are absent due to illness – mostly colds and influenza J C Barron to Mr Scorgie Westburn Road Special School 19/11/1924 Letter discussing sheets and their durability, Miss Barron reports that the ones supplied are too thin and not durable enough for the hard wear that they are given. These cost 10/6d each, Esslemont and Mackintosh had offered an alternative at 12/6d each and the equivalent to the linen sheets which had come from the Institution would be 27/6d per pair. J V Baxter to R Boyd Finlayson St Paul Street Public School 18/12/1924 Letter detailing the accommodation available in each area of the school (total 840 pupils). Florence Mabel Buyers High School for Girls 4/12/1924 Letter applying for the post of Domestic Science Teacher, listing qualifications and experience. J T Baxter to James Dawson Esq Skene Square School 5/1/1925 Letter applying for the post of Headmaster and listing qualifications and experience. Pencil note added in top corner – “Call”. Jeannie C Barron to Mr Scorgie Westburn Road Special School 17/12/1924 Letters dated 17th December and 20th January 1925 along with a pencil written note. Letters discuss the request for season tickets for the tram from Kings Gate to Rubislaw for two deaf children – Donald and Jessie Fraser of 8 Ord Street. Parents are also deaf and dumb and have difficulty with written communication so Miss Barron is writing on their behalf. Pencil not describes the family circumstances – father is a Gardner’s Labourer earning 11d per hour. Letter has an added note – “Tickets got” J K Clark to Col. Dawson Craigton Higher Grade School 20/12/1924 Letter enquiring which school their daughter Helen will attend when the family moves to Burns Road. B Christie to The Director of Education Ferryhill School 11/11/1924 Letter regarding a dispute between the school and the mother of Ella Watt – Ella was allowed a half day off school each week to assist with washing day but had been taking the full day off. E A Cruickshank to Colonel Dawson 14/11/1924 Letter of resignation from the Aberdeen Education Authority due to husband’s illness and a move to the country. William A P Cruden Victoria Road School 1924 Table showing the accommodation available in the school – total capacity 940 pupils D Christie to Education Authority Ferryhill School 19/12/1924 Table showing the accommodation available in the school – total capacity 900 pupils Joan H Calder to Mr Dawson Ferryhill School 13/11/1924 Letter applying for vacant post – notable for handwriting and writing style “My claim is my need ; my work must be my testimonial” Cecilia Chalmers to Director of Education Ferryhill School 12/11/1924 Letter requesting transfer from Walker Road to Ferryhill School. Does not wish to be transferred to the new Torry school. James Craig to Colonel Dawson Rosemount Evening School 2/1/1925 Letter discussing class sizes. Elizabeth K Falconer to Education Authority Woodside School 2/1/1925 Letter requesting transfer to another school which would be closer to home so that she can go home in the middle of the day. George Fenton to Education Authority Ruthrieston Intermediate School 17/1/1925 Letter requesting additional staff for teaching French and suggesting the author’s niece Miss Chalmers with details of her education and experience. Margaret Galbraith to N Scorgie Esq Rubislaw Special School 5/12/1924 Letter re medical test sheets for the boys Simpson and Booth. John Booth has just sailed for Canada. Margaret Galbraith to N Scorgie Esq Rubislaw Special School 5/12/1924 Letter regarding the experiment in wood chopping. This has been delayed because of a difficulty in supply of equipment. Margaret Galbraith to N Scorgie Esq Rubislaw Special School 19/1/1925 Letter stating that “the boy Ferguson enrolled today” [Alexander Ferguson]. Enclosed is a letter from Mrs H Ferguson explaining that Sandy had been unwell. George Fenton to Education Authority Ruthrieton Intermediate School 15/1/1925 Letter reporting on examination results – 65 out of 67 pupils have passed. Also discusses inconsistent marking and the case of Elsie Hay who left on the day before the Inspectors came and therefore had to be recorded as left school. Margaret Galbraith to N Scorgie Esq Rubislaw Special School 9/1/1925 Letter complaining that the old wash hand basins have not been removed - “do not rest until this eyesore has been removed from our midst” William Hendry to Director of Education High Evening School 11/11/1924 Letter observicg that while the school has 960 students enrolled, the individual subject enrollments are 1080 and he suggests that this means that the Headmaster should be paid at Grade 1. Also discusses the plan to create rooms for reading, recreation etc and notes that the pupils who come from the immediate neighbourhood come from good homes and have ample opportunity for social intercourse and recreation. L Jenman to Director of Education Queen’s Cross R.C.School 16/12/1924 Letter suggesting that the school opening on 6th January should be postponed to the following day since the 6th is a Church Holy and he expects that the pupils will be attending mass. James Sutherland to Colonel Dawson Mile End School 12/12/1924 Letter suggesting the appointment of Miss Maggie Meldrum to fill the vacancy caused by the leave of absence of Miss Helen Robertson. The letter extols Miss Meldrum’s skills at length. James Martin to Education Authority Frederick Street Evening School 13/11/1924 Report on the recreational activities at the Evening School – includes description of activities and numbers of boys and girls participating Mary J Masson to Col James Dawson Esq Ferryhill Public School 17/11/1924 Letter applying for vacant position as needlework teacher at Ferryhill School. Includes details of qualifications and previous work experience. John H Mennie to R B Finlayson Esq Woodside School 15/12/1924 Letter regarding late payment of fees for sewing work by the Philip family (Sarah Philip and Mary Philip) with details of garments produced and fees charged. Thomas Miller to R Boyd Finlayson Esq George Street School 10/12/1924 Letter enclosing cash (£1-14s) from the sale of 68 tickets to a concert by the Scottish Orchestra. School to mark double attendance since pupils will be attending concert. JW Murray to Education Authority Hanover Street Public School 19/12/1924 Note of accommodation used by the infant department within the school. John H Mennie to Mr Finlayson Woodside School 24/10/1924 Report by Infant Mistress Miss Cumming of accident to Thomas Coutts (6 ½ years) – child fell during mid-day interval and broke his right arm. M Meldrum to Colonel Dawson Ferryhill School 5/1/1924 Letter acknowledging transfer to Ferryhill School but requesting transfer back to Mile End School since the distance makes it difficult to supervise girls sports at Westburn Park. Annie G McLeod to James Dawson Esq Ferryhill School 13/11/1924 Letter applying for position as needlework teacher at Ferryhill – includes details of qualifications and work experience D MacKenzie to Director of Education King Street School 18/11/1924 Letter which appears to be a response to a request from Alexander Booth for a report on his school qualifications in relation to an application for US citizenship William McLean to Colonel Dawson 29/12/1924 Letter of thanks to the members of the Education Authority following his early retirement after 45 years of teaching. H McGrath to R Boyd Finlayson St Mary’s RC School 18/12/1924 Letter detailing the accommodation available and the numbers on the school roll at each level in the school. William D McLean to Mr Finlayson Skene Square School 11/12/1924 Letter enclosing cash (£1-12s) paid for 64 sixpenny concert tickets (for Scottish Orchestra concert) James C MacLeod to Colonel Dawson Rosemount Intermediate School 15/1/1925 Letter discussing an application from the parents of Mary Geddes to have her transferred from the St Mary’s RC School to Rosemount because the child will have better opportunities at that school (which Mr MacLeod believes “is not far wrong”). James C MacLeod to Mr Finlayson Rosemount Intermediate School 9/10/1924 Letter describing the quality of ink supplied to the school as “thoroughly bad” – reports that fungus is growing in the inkwells. Includes a memorandum to the supplier L Smith & Son, Booksellers. S Polgreen to Director of Education 20/12/1924 Letter regarding health problems and “new regulations” George Rennie to James Dawson Esq Central Evening School 13/11/1924 Letter reporting on the Recreation activities which had recently started in the Evening School William Ross to R Boyd Finlayson Esq Broomhill School 18/12/1924 Letter listing the accommodation available in the school. CR to Education Authority Commerce Street School 18/12/1924 Note listing accommodation available in the school James Ritchie to Staffing Committee Skene Square School 5/1/1925 Letter applying for the Headmastership of Skene Square School and expressing unhappiness about his recent transfer from Sunnybank to Ashley Road School. James Sutherland to Colonel Dawson Mile End School 9/12/1924 Letter enclosing Eileen Stuart’s papers (examination results) and explaining the decision to withhold her name from the schedule on the basis of her “unfitness for Intermediate work at present. Alexander Sangster to Education Authority Sunnybank Evening School 10/1/1925 Letter from the secretary of the Sunnybank Evening School Recreation Club requesting that boys be allowed to attend dancing classes with the girls since hardly any of the boys can dance. J Thomson to J Dawson Esq Sunnybank Intermediate School 8/12/1924 Letter enquiring about the conditions attaching to “Bell Bursaries” paid to pupils belonging to the Old Aberdeen area. LL Ward to Director of Education High School for Girls 4/12/1924 Letter discussing the poor quality of work in Miss Curtis’ French classes, her frequent absences and complaints from parents. LL Ward to Mr Dawson High School for Girls 12/2/1925 Letter requesting permission to use a pitch at the Grammar School for the final of the Championship of the Girls’ Schools Hockey League since it has been impossible to find a neutral ground. L A Scorgie to Miss Ward High School for Girls 18/11/1924 Letter regarding the late payment of fees for Eileen Robertson with pencil note from LL Ward on the reverse side requesting abatement of 16/- since pupil was only at school for five weeks. 1/11/1924-20/1/1925.