| Description | Selection made from original letter binder (see series level for appraisal criteria).
Topics include:
- Disagreement over arrangement for dancing in gym at Ferryhill
- Infectious diseases: leaflet requirements (several letters)
- Room smelling of gas
- Testimonial planning for widow of Mr R. Hyslop, Girls High School
- Appointment of Jeannie Angus (St Clement’s School, heard of appointment in school)
- Society of Arts Exams versus Honours papers at University locals.
- Pressure from a mother to admit her son to Frederick Street.
- Report of accident in Holburn Street School
- Reduction in dinner interval due to weather
- Requests for desks, stools, piano.
- Complaint re. Maggie Murray, pupil teacher, absenting herself from morning studies.
- Building Construction Drawing prizes.
- Testimonial additions.
- Complaint re. remarks made by Mr Campbell – relate to departure of Mr Lennon
- Response to recommendation of dismissal of all pupils in excess of accommodation . Links with numbers of pupils/tasks/salary.
- Language examinations
- Latin classes
- Looking for transfer to teach in school closer to home
- Application schedule completed
- Withdrawal of application due to salary and distance from Wigtown
- Request to reconsider salary in light of increased roll , service and experience.
- Explanation of reasons for poor report at Northfield School
- Request for additional support due to pupil numbers.
- Porthill school windows requiring repair
- Recommending permanent appointment for Miss Cameron, Miss Paton and Miss Cobban.
- Correcting mistake in order of readers.
- Numbers in each standard.
- Query re. repaving of St Paul ST.
- Appointment of Chrissie Souter.
- Application for entrance to Training College.
- Request for leave of absence to nurse ill mother.
- Reminder of claim for meeting allowance.
- Resigning pupil teacher position.
Additional appraisal and listing:
J D Anderson to Thomas Hector Esq Ferryhill Public School 28/2/1893
Letter discussing a dispute between the day school and the evening school over the use of the gymnasium.
J D Anderson to Thomas Hector Esq Ferryhill Public School 17/3/1893
Letter discussing the details of desks and tables supplied for drawing class, suggests that a sloping top would be better and requests an additional 30 sets.
J D Anderson to Thomas Hector Esq Ferryhill Public School 30/3/1893
Letter discussing the case of Miss Davidson who has been volunteering in the school in order to gain experience. Mr Anderson suggests that a small remuneration would be appropriate.
J D Anderson to Thomas Hector Esq Ferryhill Public School 30/3/1893
Letter discussing the use of a £10 profit from a school Recital and suggesting that it should be spent on pictures to be hung in the corridors.
James Allan to Thomas Hector Esq Rosemount Public School 21/2/1893
Letter regarding the late delivery and partial deliveries from suppliers, notes that the Musical Bells which were ordered in December have not yet arrived.
James Allan to Thomas Hector Esq Rosemount Public School 14/3/1893
Letter reporting that the sixth standard room smells most offensively of gas and that this is coming from the opening in the roof of the engine room. He demands that something is done.
James Allan to Thomas Hector Esq Rosemount Public School 12/4/1893
Letter requesting 500 copies of the Infectious Diseases leaflet. Subsequent note on 13/4/1893 requests a further 50 copies.
Mary Anderson to Thomas Hector Esq 18/2/1893
Letter asking to be considered for any vacancies in Aberdeen – currently an interim teacher in Fintray.
Thomas Amos to Thomas Hector Esq King Street School 25/2/1893
Letter written from Kilmarnock requesting a schedule to apply for a vacancy as Second Master at King Street school. Subsequent letter indicates that he was not successful and requests that he be kept on a list for any similar vacancies.
John C Anderson to School Board Girl’s High School 6/3/1893
Letter asking for support for a Testimonial for the late Mr R Hyslop to show his friends appreciation and sympathy for his widow.
Jeannie A Angus to Thomas Hector Esq St Clement’s School 9/3/1893
Letter thanking the Board for an appointment to the school and noting that she found out about the appointment from the Aberdeen Free Press.
James C Barnett to Thomas Hector Esq Middle Public School 16/2/1893
“At 10.30 am today, died poor old Mr Mustard in his chair by the fire. He has had a weary time of it for the past six months but his rest has suddenly come upon him.” Letter requesting an advance on salary “that I may be able to meet all demands upon me at once”.
[Andrew Mustard – Coal Agent, died 16/2/1893 at 2 Argyll Place, Aberdeen aged 82 years. Informant James C Barnett, son-in-law and occupier. Statutory register of deaths - 168 / 2 / 132, Aberdeen Old Machar]
James C Barnett to Thomas Hector Esq Middle Public School 24/2/1893
Letter arguing that the Science papers set at Honours level by the University are equivalent in difficulty to the papers of the Society of Arts and that holders of Honours Certificates in Science should therefore have some acknowledgement [in salary?] of their achievement.
James C Barnett to Thomas Hector Esq Middle Public School 14/4/1893
Request for 600 copies of leaflet on Infectious Diseases for distribution to the pupils of the school.
Alexander Bremner to Thomas Hector Esq. Free Church Normal School 14/3/1893
Request for anatomical models and comments on the attendance at the evening class in Physiology at the Girls High School.
James Campbell to Thomas Hector Esq Frederick Street Public School 30/3/1893
Comments on a case where a mother had tried on three occasions to have her son admitted to the school although his siblings were at other Aberdeen schools.
James Campbell to Thomas Hector Esq Frederick Street Public School 12/4/1893
Note requesting 850 copies of leaflet on Infectious Diseases – “will be sufficient to ensure that every home is reached”.
James H Craig to Thomas Hector Esq King Street School 9/3/1893
Letter in support of an application for teaching vacancy at King Street School, mentions qualifications and refers to Dr Ogilvie, H.M. Inspector of Schools as a supporter. Letter requesting application schedule is enclosed.
Duncan Clarke to Mr Hector 10/4/1893
Letter in support of Miss Catherine Watts, teacher in New Pitsligo but looking for a post in Aberdeen since her family have moved to Mount Street.
D Christie to Thomas Hector Esq Ferryhill Public School 8/4/1893
Request for leave of absence from October to March to attend University in Edinburgh so that they can finish their MA degree.
James Darling to Thomas Hector Esq Holburn Street Public School 23/3/1892
Report of an accident in school where Robina Davidson had fallen through the glass part of a door and severely cut her face. [Appears to be mis-filed – bundle reference xxxx]
James Findlay to Thomas Hector Esq St Clement Street Public School 27/2/1893
Letter requesting a science table of 42 to 44 inches in height so that pupils at the back of the class can see demonstrations.
James Findlay to Thomas Hector Esq St Clement Street Public School 27/2/1893
Letter recommending apoointment for temporary teachers Mis Thom, Miss Findlay and Miss Hunter. Also recommends Miss Angus, Ferryden to take Miss Reid’s place but would prefer Miss Strachan who has asked for a higher salary.
James Findlay to Thomas Hector Esq St Clement Street Public School 13/4/1893
Letter commenting on the poor state of science teaching equipment and delays in getting supplies. Requests that Mr Hector visit the school to see the problem for himself.
Alexander Forbes to Thomas Hector Esq Marywell Street Public School 8/3/1893
Unusual letter: “Peceari. Your gentle reminder of the claims of the living will not be forgotten.”
A Green to Thomas Hector Esq Skene Square Public School 15/2/1893
Request for two extra desks for Mr Clark’s room (7 ½ feet long) since over a dozen of the pupils in the class have no place for writing.
A Green to Thomas Hector Esq Skene Square Public School 22/2/1893
Letter requesting 45 portable drawing stools
A Green to Thomas Hector Esq Skene Square Public School 27/2/1893
Letter discussing the abilities of Miss Robertson and Miss Fyfe as candidates for permanent appointments.
Alexander Green to Thomas Hector Esq Skene Square Public School 8/3/1893
Letter discussing the frequent lateness of Miss Maggie Murray, a pupil teacher. He notes that she is travelling from Woodside but feels that she is a bad influence on her colleagues.
A Green to Thomas Hector Esq Skene Square Public School 22/3/1893
Letter requesting the appointment of another assistant since the number of infants has risen to 330 and are accommodated in four classrooms.
Alexander Green to School Board Skene Square Public School 31/3/1893
The note reads:
‘The books required by George Craig are a Geography (Chambers’ Standard V Geography) price 3d. I have found him an Arithmetic.
“Hen tempora! Hen mores!”
The enlightened working man a book is.
Your obedient servant,
A Green’
Alexander Green to School Board Skene Square Public School 12/4/1893
Letter describing the problems with a cabinet recently supplied for the storage of art materials for Miss Leith’s class and requesting the intervention of the deity of the department to provide suitable storage.
John Gordon to Thomas Hector Esq Middle Public School 3/4/1893
Letter which discusses 100 drawings from the Building Construction Drawing class which were sent to be judged for award of the prizes given by the board. A list of the 17 pupils who had submitted drawings is included.
JH Gordon to AJ McConnachie 6/4/1893
Letter requesting increase in salary and transfer to another school with a detailed history of career
Thomas C Hynd to Thomas Hector Esq King Street Public School 24/2/1893
Letter recommending Mr FM Robb to fill the vacant post. Letter describes his career and qualifications.
Thomas C Hynd to Thomas Hector Esq King Street Public School 28/2/1893
Letter complaining about remarks made by the Headmaster of Frederick Street School about King Street. “Reflections of a similar nature made on a former occasion were the cause of a disagreeable chapter in my history”
Thomas Hynd to Thomas Hector Esq King Street Public School 8/3/1893
Letter commenting on the quality of the applicants for a post. He has not been able to select candidates based on their applications and suggests that the Board invites all of them to Aberdeen so that their “appearance and address” can be assessed.
Thomas C Hynd to Thomas Hector Esq King Street Public School 12/4/1893
Letter responding to remarks by James Campbell (Frederick Street School). “Let me say that the circumstances under which Lennon left were not peculiar and he who makes the assertion should advance proof.”
Thomas C Hynd to Thomas Hector Esq King Street School 13/4/1893
Letter detailing the increase in pupil numbers at the school and suggesting that his salary should also be increased (from 1889 to 1893 the number of places increased from 1263 to 1600). Average attendance figures are also given.
G Hein to Thomas Hector Esq 10/4/1893
Letter suggesting that the teaching of German would be more popular if the Society of Arts incorporated Literature or philosophy into their examinations rather that commercial German language which was of little interest to the students.
Margaret C Ivey to Thomas Hector Esq Ashley Road Infant School 29/3/1890
Letter applying for post of Head Mistress in the Infant school and detailing work experience.
Helen A Laing to School Board Albion Street School 3/3/1893
Letter applying for a transfer to a school nearer to their home in Rosemount.
David Bennett Lothian to Thomas Hector Esq King Street Public School 4/3/1893
Letter asking to be borne in mind for promotion and enclosing a completed Application Schedule with details of education and career.
JC McLeod to Thomas Hector Esq King Street Public School 15/3/1893
Letter accepting the post at King Street School and mentions previous post at George Heriot’s Hospital School in Edinburgh.
Isabella McKeand to Thomas Hector Esq Ashley Road Infant School 10/4/1893
Letter and telegram withdrawing application for post at Ashley Road School. Details current salary in Falkirk and mentions family home in Wigtonshire.
John McLachlan Ashley Road School 12/4/1893
Letter requesting an increase in salary as Headmaster.
James A Phillips to Thomas Hector Esq Northfield School 30/3/1893
Letter expressing sorrow at an unfavourable report from the school inspectors and listing a series of explanations for the poor performance of the school.
James Rose to Thomas Hector Esq Causewayend Public School 24/2/1893
Urgent request for more staff in the infant department where two teachers are dealing with an average attendance of 213 pupils.
James Rose to School Board Causewayend Public School 27/2/1893
Letter complaining of the poor state of the windows in the New Porthill School which had made the school so uncomfortable that he had dismissed the school early.
James Rose to Thomas Hector Esq Causewayend Public School 28/3/1893
Note listing the numbers of pupils in each of the Standard grades
I Skea to Thomas Hector Esq St Paul Street Public School 28/3/1893
Letter requesting that the street be repaved with wooden blocks rather than causeway blocks.
Chrissie Souter to Thomas Hector Esq 18/3/1893
Letter acknowledging appointment to one of the Aberdeen schools. She will leave work in Lossiemouth on Whitsunday and will be moving to Chapel Street in Aberdeen.
Jessie Shirreffs to School Board Primrose Public School 30/3/1893
Note stating number of new pupils admitted during last school year = 48; number pf pupils who left = 45.
Christina Scatterty to Mr Hector 13/4/1893
Letter requesting that Mr Hector write to the Scotch Education Department in Dover House, London asking them to forward a form which would allow Miss Scatterty to attend an examination so that she can apply to teacher training college.
Helen Watson to Thomas Hector Ashley Road Public School 27/2/1893
Letter requesting leave of absence to allow teacher to nurse her very sick mother.
Ann Webster to Thomas Hector Esq 28/3/1893
Angry letter to School Board with request for a retiring allowance. Includes a second letter replying to Thomas Hector who appears to have suggested that he not pass on the letter and that he act on her behalf.
Isabella Wilson to Thomas Hector Esq Northfield Public School 1/4/1893
Letter of resignation - “With my parents approval I respectfully beg to be excused from further service as Pupil Teacher in Northfield Public School as home circumstances render it necessary. Might I ask to be informed when I may consider myself at liberty.”
Jessie Wallace to Mr Hector 15/4/1895
Letter seeking a teaching assistant role in Aberdeen and explaining the family circumstances which are causing her move from Castle Douglas to Aberdeen.
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