| Description | 20/9/1897-13/11/1897
• James Allan, Rosemount Public School, 3rd November 1897. Letter regarding the introduction of Shorthand lessons, which he will try to fit in after inspections in January.
• John Anderson, Ferryhill Evening School, 16th October 1897. Letter requesting additional teachers for Dressmaking and Millinery as each class has reached 50 pupils. He recommends Miss Christina Leonard for Dressmaking (gives positive report and her qualifications) and Miss Webster for Millinery (milliner with Messrs Pratt and Keith).
• John Anderson, Ferryhill Evening School, 8th October 1897. Letter requesting additional staff to cope with pupil numbers: 58 pupils in Junior Shorthand and 60 in English (Correspondence).
• John Anderson, Ferryhill Evening School, 8th October 1897. A request to add a book to the list of books provided by the Board to Evening pupils: “The Making of the Home” published by Cassell &Co.
• John Anderson, Ferryhill Evening School, 5th and 11th October 1897. Letters regarding time of dismissal of the Infant’s department in response to some issues with timekeeping (table of September dismissal times included).
• John Anderson, Ferryhill Evening School, 9th November 1897. Letter complaining that they have not received any of the paper they ordered for the school from Messrs G Cornwall & Sons a month prior and now the school’s reserve stock is finished.
• John Anderson, Ferryhill Evening School, 28th October 1897. Letter regarding the introduction of shorthand to the curriculum, for which there is no room, especially with upcoming inspections making restructuring the timetable undesirable. . (See Board Meeting minutes 18th Nov 1897, School Administration Committee 12th Nov, item 8, pg. 141)
• J Beaumont, Commerce Street Public School, 10th November 1897. Letter regarding the introduction of shorthand to the curriculum, which Beaumont says would be impossible during this school year. (See Board Meeting minutes 18th Nov 1897, School Administration Committee 12th Nov, item 8, pg. 141)
• Jas C Barnett, Middle Public School, 30th September and 12th November. Letters regarding the introduction of shorthand to the Middle School, proposing how to fit it into a full timetable and proposing the teacher Ms Gill. The later letter states that a class of around 30 pupils from the Middle School would be formed for studying shorthand. (See Board Meeting minutes 18th Nov 1897, School Administration Committee 12th Nov, item 8, pg. 141)
• J Campbell, Walker Road Public School, 3rd November 1897. Letter enclosing a list of the six pupil teachers at the school.
• Duncan Clarke, Skene Square Evening School, 4th October 1897: Letter reporting the introduction of German teaching on request of pupils.
• Duncan Clarke, Skene Square Evening School, 16th October 1897: Letter enquiring about Gymnastics teaching for 50 or so young men and the use of school facilities. Also reporting the formation of a debating club and requesting quick delivery of new typewriters.
• Alice D Cook, St Clement St School, 11th October 1897: Letter requesting transfer to a school closer to her home.
• J. Carmichael, Manual Instructor’s Office,19th October 1897: Letter regarding moving a ‘Building Construction’ class to the Grammar School on days and times detailed.
• J. N. Carmichael, [Aberdeen Grammar School/Manual Instructor’s Office], 4th and 11th November 1897. 2 letters regarding the need for a delivery of timber to the Broomfield School and Grammar School’s Workshops as the classes could not go ahead without it.
• John Cruickshank, Marywell Street Public School, 25th October 1897: Letter requesting an order of a specific paper type for the school. [possibly for art tuition?]
• John Cruickshank, Marywell Street Public School, 28th October 1897: Letter regarding introduction of shorthand classes, which would be difficult to add to timetable and expensive to hire an external teacher.
• John Cruickshank, Marywell Street Public School, 3rd November 1897: Letter requesting a new ‘Cylinder Model’ which has been smashed (when room was being prepared for an evening meeting) and a pane of ‘shaded glass’ for one classroom window which was cracked.
• C.S. Copland, Westfield Public School, 28th October 1897: Letter stating that they cannot fit Shorthand in the curriculum. [see pg141]
• G.F Duthie, Woodside Public School, 1st November 1897: Letter requesting new Set Squares as previous ones delivered were ‘absolutely useless’.
• George C Dawson, Girls’ High School, 6th October 1897: Letter from Head of Music requesting a salary increase in light of heavy work load and increased pupil numbers from 140 to 220. Letter details the role and responsibilities undertaken to warrant the increase.
• Alex Dunbar, Causewayend School, 18th October 1897: Letter stating that he would not teach on Friday evenings for the pay suggested (less than for teaching the usual continuation subjects).
• Charles Davidson, Grammar School, 5th October 1897: Letter requesting two large ‘baize-covered boards’ to put photographs, etchings etc. on the walls.
• G.F. Duthie, Woodside Public School, 21st September 1897: Long letter describing difficulties in getting pupils up to speed following a school inspection.
• Lizzie Duncan, Frederick Street School, 10th November 1897: Letter from a teacher requesting transfer to another school.
• James Findlay, 158 Bon Accord St (School not named), 30th October 1897: Letter regarding shorthand classes, saying that he would attempt to fit Shorthand into the timetable and teach it himself.
• James Findlay, St Clement St Public School, 7th September: Letter regarding the possible use of the old Free Church on Garvock St to relieve pressure in the school’s infant department.
• Alexander Forbes, Skene Street Public School, 2nd November 1897: Letter regarding the impossibility of adding Shorthand to the timetable as all the Sixth Standard pupils are taking French.
• W. Fyfe, High School Evening Classes, 7th October 1897: letter regarding enrolment in cookery classes (12 pupils), the maximum for practical classes with 1 teacher.
• George Fenton, Secretary of Scottish Assistant Teachers’ Association. Set of four letters 21st September to 11th October 1897 requesting the use of the Grammar School Hall for a meeting of the Aberdeen District branch of the Scottish Assistant Teachers’ Association featuring a lecture by Mr Blackstock, Vice-President Educational Institute of Scotland (a printed notice of which is included) and inviting the Board to attend. Also a request to use the hall for a subsequent meeting.
• James Findlay, St Clement Street School, 21st September. Letter requesting an order of some new, better squared paper.
• A. Green, Skene Street Public School, 28th October 1897. Letter regarding the impossibility of introducing shorthand to the timetable.
• A. Green, Skene Street Public School, 25th October 1897. Letter regarding the clash of the school’s inspection and the municipal elections which would require use of the school.
• John Gordon, Girls’ High School, 12th November 1897: Letter regarding Miss Maggie Hussock’s Drawing Ceritficate, giving the grades and years each part was taken (Geometrical Drawing, Perspective, etc.)
• William Gauld, 16 Summerfield Terrace (School not named), 9th October 1897. Letter applying for permission to teach ‘Machine Construction and Drawing’ to a group of 6-8 advanced students in the same room as an Elementary group (total pupils 56).
• John Gordon and W.L. Marr, Girls’ High School, 29th September 1897. Letter requesting a newspaper advert be taken out to advertise the Evening and Saturday classes in Mathematics, Magnetism and Electricity, Drawing and Painting.
• James G.H. Hector, School of Design, 28th October 1897. Letter regarding two assistant teachers recently appointed (subject to Board’s approval), Miss Margaret Badenoch and Mr Henry Young, detailing their skills and qualifications.
• James G.H. Hector, School of Design, 10th November 1897. Letter requesting four life-size antique statues and a blackboard to fit the Department’s expectations of an Art School.
• A. Green, Skene Square School, 4th October 1897. Letter requesting an urgent delivery of ink.
• Thomas C. Hynd, King Street Public School, 1st November 1897. Letter giving positive response to the request to include shorthand classes, stating that when it was previously taught it was popular and useful. States he could fit it into the Timetable, but might need an external teacher as it would be difficult for the qualified teacher in the school to be removed from his classes.
• William Hendry, Causewayend Evening School, 28th October 1897. Letter chasing an order of ‘[Ivy?] Senior Arithmetic’ textbooks and querying the change of Bookseller from Messrs Wyllie.
• William Hendry, Causewayend Evening School, 27th October 1897. Letter stating that as no Gymnastics Instructor has been provided by the Board, the order of equipment from Messrs Garvie are no longer required.
• William Hendry, Causewayend Evening School, 23rd October 1897. Letter requesting materials for Cookery classes urgently. Also informing the Board of a ‘high-class’ Concert next month which he would like to discuss in a meeting (‘show you the error of your ways’) given the Board’s dislike of ‘their entertainments’.
• Thomas Hynd, King Street Public School, 8th October 1897. Letter regarding pupil Maggie Davidson (169 Gallowgate) and her prolonged absence from school (five weeks since summer holiday).
• Thomas Hynd, King Street Public School, 8th October 1897. Letter regarding pupil Jane [Frank?] (21 Frederick St) and her absences from school (79 times that year, 23 times since summer holiday).
• Thomas Hynd, King Street Public School, 6th October 1897. Letter regarding pianos in the school.
• Thomas Hynd, King Street Public School, 22nd September 1897. Letter requesting maps from the publisher Nelson’s and other materials to mount on the walls.
• D. Lothian, King Street Evening School, 1st November 1897. Letter inquiring about a Medal and prize money of 2 pounds due to Miss Emily [Clyne?], a millinery pupil, for her last Exam (City and Guilds of London Technical Institute) as only certificates had arrived.
• Calder M Lawrence, The Aberdeen School of Shorthand and Typewriting, 17th November 1897. Letter (with company letterhead) detailing their products for sale, especially ‘Little’s Carbons and Ribbons’.
• D.B. Lothian, King Street Evening School, 6th October 1897. Letter requesting a delivery of stamped postcards for enquiring after absentees and for other messages.
• W. Murison, 27 Gladstone Place (School not specified), 20th October 1897. Letter requesting new maps for the Geography teachers as all but a few are “antiquated or worn useless”.
• John M. Lachlan, Ashley Road Public School, 4th November 1897. Letter regarding the art teaching at the school, the subjects and teachers. He requests a visiting teacher for the advanced students.
• John M. Lachlan, Ashley Road Public School, 28th October 1897. Letter requesting a visiting teacher of Shorthand as the class numbers 34 pupils.
• John McKenzie, Holburn Street School, 4th November 1897. Letter regarding the provision of Cookery teachers in the District.
• John McKenzie, Holburn Street School, 29th October 1897. Letter regarding Shorthand provision, stating that 23-30 pupils are interested in taking the subject and one of the staff could teach Pitman’s System.
• John A.M. Hardy, Old Aberdeen Public School, 2nd November 1897. Letter stating the impossibility of adding shorthand to the curriculum at that moment.
• William McLeod, Hanover Street Public School., 29th October 1897. Letter regarding the impossibility of adding shorthand to the curriculum at that moment.
• John McGregor, Dr Bell’s Public School, 29th October 1897. Letter regarding the impossibility of adding shorthand to the curriculum at that moment in time.
• John McKenzie, Holburn Street School, 21st September 1897. Letter regarding Manual Instruction at the school, discussing the possibility of using the Gymnasium or Cookery Room for Manual Instruction rather than pupils travelling to Broomhill School to use their workshop.
• J McGregor, Dr Bell’s Public School, 3rd November 1897. Letter reporting that 10 dozen Musical Bells had been delivered.
• John M. Bain, High School for Girls,13th October 1897. Letter regarding the location of Cookery classes, lists objections to the use of the modelling room in the school.
• J McGregor, Dr Bell’s Public School, 22nd September 1897. Letter regarding Hoops and Indian Clubs [fitness equipment] ordered in July from Messrs Dickie and Garvie are not yet delivered.
• John Peter, Porthill Public School, 29th October 1897. Letter stating that no pupil is advanced enough to warrant teaching Shorthand and all leave school at age 14 or after Standard 5.
• James A Phillips, Northfield Public School, 1st November 1897. Letter regarding Shorthand, saying that room can be found in curriculum, around 40 pupils would take it, but no staff qualified, so a visiting teacher is necessary.
• James B Philip, 8 Belvidere Crescent [School not mentioned], 20th October, 2nd and 6th November 1897. Letters regarding Botany classes, insufficient enrolments for elementary class, so continuing with Advanced Class only. Subsequent letters say that class to be discontinued.
• John Peter, Porthill Public School, 20th October 1897. Letter offering positive review of Miss Dawsons’ short time assisting Miss Mennie.
• John Peter, Porthill Public School, 15th October 1897. Letter stating that due to poor weather, the school would shut in the afternoon.
• William Robertson, Rublislaw Public School, 29th October 1897. Letter regarding Shorthand teaching. Tuition can be arranged for 30 pupils, but visiting teacher required.
• James Rose, Causewayend School, 2nd November 1897. Letter regarding Shorthand. As pupils leave the school at a young age, it would not be viable to teach Shorthand.
• John Ritchie, Skene Square Evening School, 8th November 1897. Letter regarding a lecture by The Rev. Alex Webster (Chairman, Aberdeen School Board) to be given to the school on “Shakespeare’s Incapable and False Women”.
• William Robertson, Rubislaw School, 8th November 1897. Example of Aberdeen School Board postcard. Contents regarding Member’s Handbook.
• John Ritchie, Skene Square Evening School, 11th October 1897. Letter requesting extra staff for teaching Dressmaking due to high enrolment (96 Junior and 21 Advanced)
• William Robertson, Rubislaw Public School, 12th October 1897. Letter complaining about ink still undelivered from Messrs [Muir] and Hall.
• William Stewart, Woodside Evening School, 10th November 1897. Letter regarding details of the Dressmaking/Sewing tuition brought up by Inspectors.
• [I Skea?], St Paul St School, 10th November 1897. Angry letter regarding needing additional teachers and around the school pianos.
• H. Morland Simpson, Aberdeen Grammar School, 30th September 1897. Letter detailing discussions around a football match with Dundee High School.
• H. Morland Simpson, Aberdeen Grammar School, 14th October 1897. Postcard with details of Free Scholars on the roll.
• H. Morland Simpson, Aberdeen Grammar School, 20th October 1897. Letter regarding complaints by a neighbour around footballs going over the school wall.
• [I Skea?], St Paul St School, 12th November 1897. Letter requesting their order of inkwells be fulfilled urgently.
• P. Smart, Frederick St School, 28th October 1897. Letter regarding Shorthand, stating that there is no room in the Timetable.
• J.B. Spalding, York Street School, 29th October 1897. Letter regarding Shorthand, stating that pupils are already sufficiently weighted with other subjects to introduce it currently.
• [J Skea?], St Paul St School, 29th October 1897. Letter regarding Shorthand, with very positive attitude towards introducing it. Short discussion of logistics to teach it.
• H. Morland Simpson, Aberdeen Grammar School, 30th October 1897. Letter recommending teacher Mr Ward for a salary increase. Goes into long detail about his skills and work at the school.
• [J. L.?] Skea, St Paul St School, September and October 1897. Letters regarding preparations for the opening of new school premises.
• H. Morland Simpson, Aberdeen Grammar School, 7th September 1897. Long letter giving details of the first thirty free scholars who started in 1893, their school achievements (prizes etc.) and when/if they left the school and why.
• H. Morland Simpson, Aberdeen Grammar School, 20th September 1897. Long letter complaining about the standards of the boys joining the school from Elementary schools, particularly in Latin and French.
• H. Morland Simpson, Aberdeen Grammar School, 21st October 1897. Letter complaining about slow delivery of ink and Chemistry materials ordered.
• J.B. Spalding, York St School, 7th and 12th October. Letter regarding a pupil (surname Walker), who had transferred to St Clement St School. He often played truant from school unless brought by his father.
• [J.L.?] Skea, St Paul St School 22nd September 1897. Letter dismissing accusations of nepotism as he chose a family member to teach cookery over an unexperienced teacher.
• [J.L.?] Skea, St Paul St School 22nd September 1897. Letter panicking about changes to the school calendar and that children will need to go forward a ‘standard’ within 3 months.
• H. Morland Simpson, Aberdeen Grammar School, 7th October 1897. Letter detailing candidates for teaching positions.
• H. Morland Simpson, Aberdeen Grammar School, 4th October 1897. Letter regarding unsatisfactory Free Scholars.
• H. Morland Simpson, Aberdeen Grammar School, 23rd September 1897. Letter about the school inspection’s negative views on the Physics Laboratory and the Workshop.
Isabella L. Urquhart, St. Clement Street School, 11/11/1897, request to make Miss Levack permanent.
E. M. Urquhart, Skene Square School, 05/11/1897, correction of the number of pupils attending Dressmaking classes.
A. G. Wallace, Central Public School, 30/09/1897, arrangements for Miss Milne’s teaching.
A. G. Wallace, Central Public School, 04/10/1897, on the provision of pianoforte lessons in the school.
A. G. Wallace, Central Public School, 07/10/1897, request for registers and for Miss Jessie Milne’s name to be added to list of teachers.
A. G. Wallace, Central Public School, 08/10/1897, positive testimonial of Mr Litster, noting particularly his discipline and individual examination of each pupil.
A. G. Wallace, Central Public School, 28/10/1897, number of pupils taking Shorthand classes and arrangements for its teaching.
A. G. Wallace, Central Public School, 29/10/1897, alterations to classification of Pupil Teacher Science Classes, to be made through Mr Blair. Request to register the following pupils under Group II: Bessie Cruickshank, Maggie Gibb, Emily Sangster, Maggie Smythe, Annie Sturrock, Jeannie Taylor and Jeannie Burnett.
A. G. Wallace, Central Public School, 08/11/1897, notice that Miss Mackintosh did not sit the last Certificate Examination.
W. H. Kirwan Ward, Grammar School, 23/09/1897, salary increase request.
W. H. Kirwan Ward, Grammar School, 21/10/1897, regarding payment for the use of Mannsfield Ground by the Games Committee and Former Pupils’ Football Club.
R. Watson, Broomhill School, Drawing Grant form.
R. Watson, Broomhill Public School, 05/10/1897, request to continue appointment of Miss [W]isely.
R. Watson, Broomhill Public School, 05/11/1897, no room for Shorthand on the curriculum.
H. Watson, 29/10/1897, on the suitability of a pianette from Miss Easson. |