| Description | 17/2/1900-10/5/1900
- Aberdeen’s Penny Fund – Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Help Society, 17-18th Apr 1900. Rosemount Public School. Details amount for the fund collected from the school – gives teacher names.
- J D Anderson, 20th Apr 1900. Ferryhill Public School. The Soldiers’ & Sailors’ Help Society - confirming £3 0s 9d was sent from the school to the scheme.
- J D Anderson, 5th May 1900. Ferryhill Public School. Details attendance figures in the Infants Department and the necessity for additional assistance these. Anderson also permitted the advancement of teachers to go up a teaching grade.
- Margaret Anderson, 23rd Feb 1900. The Cottage, Kintore. Resigned her situation with the Kemnay School Board and has requested they let her leave earlier than her notice requires.
- Annie G Adams, 4th Apr 1900. 5 Calton Terrace, Aberdeen. Offers her father (James Adams, mason, same address) as surety for a posting.
- Elizabeth O Abel, 10th Apr 1900. 20 Argyll Place, Aberdeen. Offers her father (John Abel, book-keeper, same address) as surety for a posting.
- Alexander S Balneaves, 23d Mar 1900. 1 Grosvenor Place, Aberdeen. Addressed to the Members of the Salaries Committee of the Aberdeen School Board. Requests an increase of salary after a year working at the Central School.
- Williamina Britcher Piggie, 24th Apr 1900. 54 St. Swithin Street, Aberdeen. Offers herself (a clerkess) as surety for Mary Jessie Bisset.
- James B Barnett, 5th Mar 1900. Middle Public School. Written in reference to Catherine P Stewart’s letter of the same date. Gives an overview of her teaching history and positive comments on her character.
- James B Barnett, 10th Mar 1900. Middle Public School. States government pension he would expect to receive at the age of 65 years (£18 16s 3d) and explains low amount due to his history of working at a non-elementary school.
- James B Barnett, 12th Mar 1900. Middle Public School. States pension he would accept to be £28 10s, provides calculations based on work history enclosed.
- Helen J Brown, 24th Apr 1900. 241 Great Northern Road, Woodside. States her desire to begin work, her notice to the Cruden School Board having expired.
- Helen J Brown, 22nd Mar 1900. Auchiries Public School, Port Erroll, Cruden. Asks for advice on sending in her resignation so she can accept a post with the Aberdeen School Board.
- Helen J Brown, 15th Mar 1900. Auchiries Public School, Port Erroll, Cruden. Advises she can begin work in Aberdeen within two to three weeks. States the ‘usual thing for female teachers’ is one month’s notice but the Cruden board did not specify this to her, but all the same she would like to work a formal notice period.
- J Campbell, 22nd Feb 1900. Walker Road Public School. Has met with Miss Anderson of Kemnay who will take up work here. Some difficulties will need to be sorted out with Mr Kendall Burnett, head of the Kemnay school board.
- J Campbell, 27th Feb 1900. Walker Road Public School. Advises on a very large increase in pupils in the Infants Department. Instead of the school plan of 4 rooms of 33 pupils there now stands 7 rooms of 53 pupils. Hopes the board will approve an increase in staff salaries, particularly for Miss Anderson whose responsibilities have increased so much.
- J Campbell, 27th Feb 1900. Walker Road Public School. Provides the number of girl pupils taking Needlework Arrangements at each standard level. These classes (particularly at levels I, III, IV, V) are giving great strain to the teachers due to their large numbers. He requests a Miss Gordon be transferred as the strain has been affecting her.
- J Campbell, 28th Feb 1900. Walker Road Public School. States the number of pupils being taught Standard III has increased and now stands at 182. He requests that a new instructor with senior qualifications be brought in to replace the current junior member to instruct these pupils and increase effectiveness.
- J Campbell, 28th Feb 1900. Walker Road Public School. Asks for a salary increase to the limit of £320 owing to the large increase in pupil numbers (now 1400) and his long service to the board.
- J Campbell, 9th Mar 1900. Walker Road Public School. Advises on the numbers of pupils likely to seek out the school on a temporary basis. The next document, presumably originally attached with this letter, is from the same school showing the temporary arrangement of classes across the floors of the building. This is written on to a gridded drawing standard card.
- J Campbell, 16th Apr 1900. Walker Road Public School. Refers to an article in the ‘Free Press’ in which a Mr Keir (unknown to Campbell) was questioned about Walker Road school’s Music Drill. Campbell offers an explanation to what was said, offering that the gymnasium is filled with overflow classes due to the ‘great growth of population’. This has been approved by government inspectors and cannot be fixed until additions to the school are completed.
- J Campbell, 25th Apr 1900. Walker Road Public School. He had been advised Thomas Hector had received a call from a Mrs Craig against him on behalf of her daughter not being allowed back to Walker Road. Campbell states his reason for this is that Mrs Craig will not allow him to deploy disciplinary measures against the girl. Her reasons for this are provided. Campbell further states ‘the second allegation is completely untrue’ and gives more evidence.
- J Campbell, 26th Apr 1900. Walker Road Public School (headmaster). Advises that a pupil was convicted of theft and the father has been informed that his son is not welcome back, but all the same Campbell asks for a second opinion on this.
- Christian Clark, 19th Mar 1900. 3 College Bounds, Old Aberdeen. Asks to be transferred to Old Aberdeen School to be closer to her home. At the time of writing, she was teaching at Skene Square school. She preferred to be teaching levels standard II or III.
- Julia Crane, 27th Mar 1900. Banchory Lodge, Banchory-Ternan. Offers her father (William Crane, overseer, same address) as surety.
- Helen E Copland, 17th Apr 1900. Police Station, Huntly. Offers her father (William Copland, Inspector of Police, same address) as surety for her posting as a pupil teacher at Old Aberdeen Public School.
- Alice Cox, no date. 20 Merkland Road East, Aberdeen. Offers Mr Henry Cox, naval pensioner, same address, as her surety.
- A Cruickshanks, 26th Feb 1900. Marywell Street Public School. Advises he has handed over 208 volumes of a Young Folks Library (value £16 18s) for the use of the school, along with several other books volunteered by member and friends of the staff.
- G R Dalgliesh, 10th Apr 1900. Friendly Bank, Mounthooly, Aberdeen. Offers William Dalgliesh, Governor of East Poorhouse, same address, as surety for the posting of pupil teacher at King Street school.
- George F Duthie, 10th Apr 1900. Woodside Public School. Asks for copies of school rules and regulations and how to keep them for use in the school.
- Mary Emslie, 3rd Apr 1900. 154 Victoria Road, Torry, Aberdeen. Details father (Isaac Emslie, bookbinder, same address) presumably for surety.
- George Fenton, 22nd Feb 1900. Holburn Street Evening School. Asks for board approval to hold a concert and light entertainment, anticipating the cost of hiring an instrument will be the only expense of this kind for the year.
- George Fenton, 8th Mar 1900. Holburn Street Evening School. Notes revisions of the prize list to include three more students. particularly singling out one girl for exemplary conduct.
- James Findlay, 20th Mar 1900. St. Clement Street Public School. Expresses thanks for an increase in salary.
- James Findlay, 1st May 1900. St Clement Street Public School. Offers £8 2s 10d contributed by pupils for the School Children’s Penny Fund. The following document was presumably originally attached, dated 4th May 1900, showing how much has been collected by each class at the school.
- Alexander Forbes, 2nd Mar 1900. Skene Street Public School. Notes that a class was changed to a double session to make up for a missed chance for a half-day holiday.
- Alexander Forbes, 23rd Apr 1900. Skene Street Public School. Children’s Penny Fund – contribution of £1 10s 9d offered for the scheme.
- Alexander Forbes, 16th Mar 1900. Skene Street Public School. Asks for a salary review, gives work history and improvements made.
- Alexander Forbes, 20th Mar 1900. Skene Street Public School. Regarding pencils – middle & senior infants plus Standard I pupils are supplied with some 230 pencils. The teachers do all the dressing (sharpening) for them and re-use the stumps in compasses. A potential saving would be to issue pencil cases to hold the too short pencils which are used for taking notes only.
- Jeannie Hardie Forbes, 27th Mar 1900. 12 Salisbury Terrace, Aberdeen. Offers Alexander Forbes, teacher, same address, as surety.
- Ada S Fraser, 3rd Apr 1900. 49 Watson Street, Aberdeen. Offers her father (James C Fraser, builder, same address) as surety.
- W Fyfe, 2nd Mar 1900. High Evening School. Notes no students attend two evening schools and all have paid fees. On reverse is a reply from William G Smith asking if fees are going to be returned to any pupils.
- W Fyfe, 25th Apr 1900. Marywell Street Public School. Children’s Penny Fund & The Soldiers’ & Sailors’ Help Society – donations totalling £1 3s have been received from the pupils for this scheme.
- William Gauld, 21st Feb 1900, head teacher of St. Paul Street Evening School. Sent schedules from self-taught students who intended to sit the Machine Construction exam, their names being George Craig, William Johnston, and George Burnett.
- William Gauld, 26th Apr 1900. St. Paul Street Evening School. Regarding the Machine Drawing class, prize books will be ready for giving away on the 3rd May. Asks for a member of the Evening Classes Committee to be available for the task, preferably Mr Keir.
- William Gauld, 30th Apr 1900. 16 Summerfield Terrace, Aberdeen. Regarding the Machine Drawing class, he will rearrange the prize night to be held on the 2nd May to enable Mr Keir to be present.
- Mary C Garson [?], 27th Mar 1900. Ferryhill Public School. Reminding that a pianette is much wanted at the school, “as I fear the conversation we had … has escaped your memory”.
- Patrick Gray, 4th Apr 1900. 5 Northfield Place, Aberdeen. Notes his father is dead and that he proposes Mrs Gray alias Jane Milne as his surety.
- A Green, 4th May 1900. Skene Square Public School. Sent £2 6s ½ d contribution from pupils for the Children’s Penny Fund.
- J T W Hector, undated. School of Design, Union Row, Aberdeen. Notes that the students in Perspective class have not attended it for some time and thus they cannot go forward to the exam stage. He notes a slim chance of one student attending the exam.
- Christina A M Henderson, 7th Apr 1900. 46 Mount Street, Aberdeen. Proposes her father (John Henderson, agency overseer, Aberdeen Journal Office) as surety for her term as pupil teacher at St. Paul Street School.
- William Hendry, 14th Mar 1900. School Board offices, Aberdeen. Asks for advice on matters ‘foreign to the board’ in relation to the School Board of Dyce. Dyce had received permission from the Education Department to borrow £500 for an enlargement and minor improvements but refused to sanction £200 which had already been spent on general improvements. He asks if the lenders have any security for their money, if the rates can be held liable and if the repayments can be spread out.
- William Hendry, 17th Mar 1900. Granville Cottage, Dyce. Sends thanks for the reply to his previous letter and notes the lenders have the security of their rates and that the ratepayers will feel the weight of the result.
- Alice Hunter, 30th Mar 1900. 32 Mile-End Avenue, Aberdeen. Proposes her mother (Mrs Annie Hunter, same address) as surety for the next four years.
- Thomas C Hynd, 7th Mar 1900. King Street Public School. Notes that the gymnasium piano is in a bad state and needs to be replaced after having seen long years of good service and possibly being the first one bought by the school board. Ends note with “dancing & drill are both in full swing.”
- Thomas C Hynd, 11th Mar 1900. King Street Public School. Gives detailed estimate figures for his pension calculation. Gives his date of birth as 27th Aug 1843 (age 56) and left Normal School in Christmas 1863. Started school work in April 1864 at Cavers Parish. Claims total service of 21 years to date of letter. Pension calculated at £44 11s 6d - with leeway for rounding down should come at least to £43.
- J B Spalding, Robert Watson and Thomas C Hynd, 15th Mar 1900. Refers to the State Superannuation Teachers’ Act they are being asked to sign, the terms having been explained to them by the Finance Committee. They ask for a meeting with the School Board before details are adjusted, specifically in relation to provisions resulting from any of their deaths before the age of 60.
- Thomas C Hynd, undated. Addressed to the Convener & Members of the Staffing & Salaries Committee, Aberdeen School Board. Refers to the Superannuation Act and the request to sign it. Sets out that the act is unfair for teachers whose terms of service are nearing their ends. Three teachers will be particularly affected, viz: Jane B Spalding, Thomas C Hynd, and Robert C Watson. Before the act was suggested, these teachers were looking forward to pension increases of about £80 each. Once the act is in place, their pensions will only reach £40 total each at most. Options for alternative arrangements are suggested.
- Thomas C Hynd, 19th Mar 1900. Pitmudie, Rubislaw Den South, Aberdeen. Complaint of cold conditions in the classrooms – “a little above freezing, for the second time this season.” Suggests the janitor could be overworked.
- Thomas C Hynd, 13th Apr 1900, head teacher of King Street Public School. Regarding its recent use as a polling station, Hynd notes the old rooms used as booths are not now suitable for classes. These will have to be moved to the gym.
- Thomas C Hynd, 24th Apr 1900. King Street Public School. Called at the office when the University degree exam results came out and reports that ‘our’ Mr John W Murray had succeeded, “and I added the magical letters M.A. to the form for Members’ Handbook.” Hynd then proposes an increase in salary on Murray’s behalf. He believes there has been a delay in this regard in the past, giving his present salary as £115, and that Murray has a “long and successful record behind him”. He refers to a rule about doubling increments of salary when university degrees are accomplished.
- T C Hynd, 30th Apr 1900, head teacher of King Street Public School. Giving the result of the Penny Subscription as 2000 pennies or £8 6s 8d.
- Thomas C Hynd, 15th Aug 1900. King Street School. Notes he has signed the letter of acceptance along with his colleagues but is troubled that his claims for consideration of increased salary have not been taken up by the committee. Writes that his salary has been fixed for 10 years despite the school’s repeated enlargements and re-fillings of pupils. He gives pupil numbers from 1883 to 1899 showing a steady increase from 840 to 1723 places, and also notes extra rooms added for special classes and subjects. He gives income figures between 1886 and 1899 showing a doubling to £2060+. All his teachers have received salary increases. Proposes a £35 amenity in recognition of his services.
- L G Innes, 7th May 1900. Port Elphinstone, Inverurie. Offers father (John Clark Innes, cashier, Port Elphinstone) as surety.
- C… H [?] Jack, 28th Feb 1900. 45 Carden Place, Aberdeen. Request for an increase in salary. Refers to a Mr Forbes who will act as a reference. Says he has a mixed class of 70 pupils and is responsible for the industrial work of classes 2 & 3 (~75 girls). Notes that other ladies who started classes after her have larger salaries already.
- [*] Enfinie [?] Lacaille, 28th Mar 1900. 69 Beaconsfield Place, Aberdeen. This letter is written in French [mine is very rusty – from what I can make out:] Refers to an article in that day’s Journal, and refers later to Glasgow, having visited it during holidays … apologies for being very late in informing you [?]
- K Lawrence, 2nd Apr 1900. 5 Kinnear Square, Laurencekirk. Gives William Lawrence (merchant, same address) as surety.
- Gordon Lawson, 17th Apr 1900. 26 Argyll Place, Aberdeen. Notes his father ( John Lawson, printer) will be his surety for his service as a pupil teacher.
- D B L, undated. King Street Evening School. Small postcard addressed to W M Kenzie, School Board Offices, union Terrace, Aberdeen. Notes calculations made for hours and attendance – different workings. 555 hours ascribed to pupils taking 1 subject only, and 117.5 hours for those taking less than 12 hours.
- D B Lothian, 19th Feb 1900. Head Teacher, King Street Evening School. Asks for 12 copies of a return of fees form. Below is a scibbled reply from ‘William G S’ asking if this will suffice for all claims, including for pupils only attending one school. Below that is a reply from D B Lothian, addressed to Mr McKenzie – no. The forms are only for pupils attending his school but paying fees at another. Some 200 forms will be needed.
- D B Lothian, 16th Mar 1900. King Street Evening School. Sets to paper his concerns about a teaching colleague, Mr George MacKay, who had been drunk when giving classes. The circumstances are laid out in detail (including that MacKay solicited the help of a pupil to obtain brandy during the school day), and teachers who witnessed the event are named (Messrs. Grant, Robb, Mathieson, and Rennie).
- Edith McAllan, 9th Apr 1900. Danestone Stables, Woodside, Aberdeen. Offers her father (James McAllan, coachman, same address) as surety.
- John McBain, 20th Feb 1900. Aberdeen High School for Girls. Sends names [not attached to this letter] of nearly all the pupils at present. This includes 371 separate families.
- John McBain, 26th Feb 1900. Aberdeen High School for Girls. Issues an immediate priority repair order for the piano in Music Room I.
- John McBain, 14th Mar 1900. Aberdeen High School for Girls. Has been informed that removing Miss Gordon from the school will cause much inconvenience to the Junior Sewing Classes. She believes the greatest pressure on the class is at the end of the year while at Walker Road the opposite is true.
- John McBain, 27th Mar 1900. Aberdeen High School for Girls. Asks for removal of a grand piano for tuning to be arranged.
- John McBain, 22nd Feb 1900. Aberdeen High School for Girls. Attempting to arrange a replacement teacher for Mr Fyfe. Recommends Mr A B Cameron who would soon graduate in Classics and had come 1st in Latin, Greek, received a Distinction in English and was a prizeholder in Greek prose for two years as well as being head of the Literary Society and First Exhibitioner at Christ Church, Oxford. His father is the son of the Ullapool schoolmaster and under him had received several months of teaching experience.
- John McBain, 4th May 1900. Aberdeen High School for Girls. Lists staff requirements for the next season. These included a successor for Mr Fyfe who would get a fresh distribution of work to free up Miss Clarke for other duties. Details of classes and duties enclosed. Mr Herd recommended as temporary successor to Mr Fyfe. Another teacher would be required for shorthand, typewriting, and commercial arithmetic, with timings to be confirmed after consulting with a specialist.
- W Reith Macgregor, 23rd Mar 1900. 9 Jackson Terrace, Aberdeen – To the Members of the Salaries Committee of Aberdeen School Board. Asks for a salary increase to come into effect now instead of 12 weeks in the future given his promotion and subsequent increase in responsibility.
- John McGregor, 8th Mar 1900. Head Teacher, Old Aberdeen Public School. Reports that 6 additional children have applied for admission to the school that week.
- John McGregor, 28th Feb 1900. Head Teacher, Old Aberdeen Public School. Writes that class-room accommodation is too limited in the new school building. Further to this, 8 new infant students (from families with other children at the school) have applied to join the school. McGregor asks if they should be admitted.
- J McGregor, 11th Apr 1900. Head Teacher, Old Aberdeen Public School. Thanks the board for the notice of his salary increasing the next year, however he points out that over the preceding period of the Summer Holidays to February, he had in effect been superintendent of three schools and had not been in receipt of any extra allowance then for his extra work.
- John McGregor, 27th Apr 1900. Old Aberdeen Public School. Includes the result of a collection at the school for The Soldiers’ & Sailors’ Help Society (detail given, totalling 19s 5d), the monies having been forwarded to the board.
- John A McHardy, 16th Mar 1900. Woodside Public School. Mr Wilkie has agreed to let the hall out at 5s per day, but as they were about to start redecorating it they could not guarantee the same day would be available each week. Mr McHardy paid to be able to use it at once on these terms. He asks for the old piano to be sent over to the hall – it is not in tune but it could be used to mark time.
- John A McHardy, 1st May 1899 [error, should be 1900]. Enclosed a cheque for The Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Help Society (school subscription totalled £3 2s 9d).
- George M MacKay, 2nd Mar 1900. Broomhill Public School. Asks for an increase in salary in consideration of the decision by the Education Department to consider his temporary appointments as equivalent to one year’s service for the government pension scheme. He states that two of his colleagues who entered service at the same time are already enjoying or exceeding this increase. He backs up his experience citing diplomas, certificates, and a general experience and transferability in different departments.
- Elizabeth McKenzie, 1st Mar 1900. Skene Street Public School. Asks to be considered for a Higher Grade, having been in the board’s service since 1882. Her work is intermediate between Standards III and IV and teaches a large mixed class of boys and girls covering all fields of work.
- John McKenzie, 26th Feb 1900. Holburn Street Public School. Writes that the head Teachers have appointed Mr Hynd, Mr Duthie, Mr Jack and himself to confer with the board on the matter of home lessons.
- John McKenzie, 26th Feb 1900. Holburn Street Public School. Exchange of Second Readers – under the new code, schemes of work have to be submitted and approved in Nature Knowledge History class. These have been modelled on existing plans for other classes – with other class books and second readers, and therefore do not work very well. The head teachers believe that for literary readers only, exchanged might be possible from time to time and to effect this, lists of the sets of readers to be exchanged should be sent to the board who could then circulate them to interested parties.
- J McKenzie, 28th Mar 1900. Head Teacher, Holburn Street Public School. Messrs. White & Co. charged £1 for adjustments to Aberdeen exhibits selected for Paris (securing and tidying-up). This charge was much higher than expected.
- John McKenzie, 11th Apr 1900. Holburn Street Public School. Gives notice of an accident that happened to Alex. Smart (of 29 Bloomfield Road), in the Infant Department. He fell on the steps leading from the playground to the Hardgate and was attended by Dr Sheriffs for a cut.
- John McKenzie, 23rd Apr 1900. Holburn Street Public School – Soldiers’ & Sailors’ Help Society. £2 4s was sent in for the fund as collected from the pupils.
- John McLachlan, 26th Feb 1900. 37 Forest Avenue, Aberdeen. Asks the board for a salary increase. States he is one of the oldest head teachers in service of the board and was the first headmaster of Causewayend School. For reasons of health brought on by working there he transferred to Ashley Road School which came with a heavy reduction in salary. Believes the board has never considered this situation but offers to base his argument on present circumstances. He states that Ashley Road School is full, fee-paying, and largely self-supporting. It is supported by having a Secondary department which requires the organisation of large grants and extra administrative work. He states that he has twice brought this argument to the board and been refused. Tries again out of a sense of justice.
- John McLachlan, 1st Mar 1900. Ashley Road Public School. Has withdrawn from the collective action in regards to the government pension scheme in order to take out his individual action against the board. He clarifies that his wished for increase in allowance applies only so long as the school is fee-paying and has an advanced department.
- John McLachlan, 12th Mar 1900. Ashley Road Public School. Expects to receive a government pension of £41 on reaching 65 years old under the new Superannuation Scheme.
- John McLachlan, 20th Mar 1900. Ashley Road Public School. Asks for 1000 fee-lines for the current year, having underestimated the number required.
- John McLachlan, 12th Apr 1900. Ashley Road Public School. Informs that the school’s piano teacher, Miss Bain, refuses to accept a girl with a minor physical impairment as a pupil. The girl in question has no or only limited use of the little finger on the left hand. Miss Bain believes having such a pupil would harm her own reputation. The girl’s mother would be happy with any progress she can make. Mr McLachlan asks if Miss Bain is obliged to accept the pupil.
- John McLachlan, 4th May 1900. Ashley Road Public School. Sent cheque for The Soldiers’ & Sailors’ Help Society (school subscription totalled £5 3s 5d).
- William D McLean, 29th Mar 1900. Hanover Street Public School. The widely scattered accommodation in the Salvation Army Citadel, Peacock’s Close, the Fish Street Halls have led to serious disadvantages and difficulties for school management. That the school had not suffered more obviously was due to all departments having scored excellent grades. The board previously granted an honorarium of £10 to counter these problems, and he asks for it to be brought to their notice again.
- William D McLean, 2nd Mar 1900. Letter written to the board to help maintain his position as headmaster of Hanover Street School. He has been master there for over 7 years and has found the work there always difficult because 1. of the class of students attending, 2. the poor condition of the old school buildings, and 3. the strain of being housed in temporary buildings for the past 2 years. The school is now classed as ‘excellent in every department’. He believes that the loss of so many of his teachers – having moved on to better schools and salaries – in the past few years, while he remained, was due to the board intending to move him into the new Hanover School when it became available. That this new position is being treated as ‘an open question’ gives the impression that he has lost the confidence of the board.
- William D McLean, 8th May 1900. Hanover Street Public School. Enclosed 10s collected from pupils for scheme providing homes for disabled soldiers and sailors.
- Alexander Moodie, 19th Mar 1900. Woodside Evening School. Notes 2s expenses were incurred by the janitor collecting and returning apparatus required for an evening’s entertainment.
- Alexander Moodie, 22nd Mar 1900. Woodside Evening School. [Attached to letter above]. Has not received word from the Board regarding the gramophone, collection of which by the janitor is urgently required for the upcoming entertainment. He also wishes to inspect the instrument to learn how it works.
- Annie H Murray, 27th Mar 1900. 26 Springbank Place, Aberdeen. Offers her father (Frank R Murray, fishcurer, same address) as surety.
- Jane Bruce Murray, 30th Mar 1900. Angusfield House, Angusfield, Aberdeen. Offers her mother (Mrs Mary Jane Murray, same address) as surety for her four years engaged as a pupil teacher.
- Agnes B Mutch, 9th Apr 1900. 7 Brunswick Place, Aberdeen. Offers her father (James Mutch, cattle agent, same address) as surety for her engagement as a pupil teacher at Marywell Street School.
- Jessie Paterson, 29th Mar 1900. 95 Park Street, Aberdeen. Gives her father (John Paterson, mason, Behinties, Leochel Cushnie) as surety for her position as a Pupil Teacher.
- Madge M Y Paterson of Commerce Street School, 2nd Apr 1900. C/O Mrs Jamieson, 24 Esslemont Avenue, Aberdeen. Gives her father (Rev. Robert Paterson M.A., U.P. Manse, Savoch, Auchnagatt, Aberdeenshire) as surety.
- John Peter, 6th Mar 1900. Commerce Street Public School. Has heard from solicitor Mr Donald Sinclair that Miss Aberdein has resigned. Recommends Miss Jessie Valentine be promoted from the Junior to Senior subdivision to fill the vacancy. She had applied for this previously. Additionally, he recommends making Miss Mary Cruickshank a permanent staff member, she having been a temporary replacement for Miss Aberdein for 3 months.
- John Peter, 20th Apr 1900. Head Teacher, Commerce Street Public School. Encloses £2 1s 4d for The Children’s Penny Fund on behalf of the Soldiers’ & Sailors’ Help Society.
- Patricia J Philip, 2nd Apr 1900. 12 Elmbank Terrace, Aberdeen. Offers her father (Patrick Philip, same address) as surety for her role as a Pupil Teacher.
- Helen Scott Raitt, 17th Apr 1900. 58 Schoolhill, Aberdeen. Offers her father (John Raitt, boiler-maker, same address) as surety.
- Alexander Reid, 2nd Apr 1900. Daisy Cottage, Hatton of Fintray, by Aberdeen. Offers his father (John Reid, tailor & clothier, Hatton of Fintray) as his surety for his position as Pupil Teacher at Skene Square School.
- Bella Reid, 30th Mar 1900. C/O Mrs Ross, 65 Loanhead Terrace, Aberdeen. Offers her father (Alexander Reid, farmer, Blackpool of Tough, Whitehouse) as surety.
- Mary Reid, 1st Mar 1900. 39 Mount Street, Aberdeen. Asks for her E.D.C. having gained all the necessary Drawing Certificates.
- John Ritchie, 23rd Feb 1900. Skene Square Evening School. Dressmaking & Dress-Cutting class students have an average age of 17.27 years, ranging from 14 to 26 years old.
- John Ritchie, 15th Mar 1900. Skene Square Evening School. List of pupils given [not attached to this note] who are entitled to a return of fees, plus 50 deposit bank books and ‘Return of Fees’ slips. Wants the bank books within a week so they can be distributed to scholars.
- William Robertson, 6th Mar 1900. Westfield Public School. Written in reference to Jamesina Stewart’s letter of the same date. Gives an overview of her teaching history and positive comments on her character.
- William Robertson. Westfield and Northfield Schools combined raised £1 9s for the Soldiers’ & Sailors’ Homes fund.
- William Robertson, 8th May 1900. Westfield Public School. As Miss Brebner has been transferred, he recommends sub-assistant Miss M Greig replace her.
- William [?] Rose, 30th Apr 1900. Causewayend Public School. Sends £2 for the Children’s Penny Fund for the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Help Society.
- Mary Ross, 3rd Apr 1900. Her father’s details given as surety (George Ross, farmer, Old-Town, Banchory).
- William Ross, 23rd Mar 1900. Ashley Road Public School. Asks for the board’s consideration in his role as second master. States that teachers in Advanced Division work are paid on a higher scale. Ross has taught for 3 years in this department at Ashley Road and is at the limit of his salary (£200), he asks for this limit to be reconsidered so that he is on an equal footing with equivalent teachers.
- William Ross, 24th Apr 1900. Ashley Road Public School. Believes the gymnasium will hold over 100 candidates for examinations. Asks how many pupils were in there the year before but believes the same number. This year there are 80 pupils being examined in Lower Arithmetic and this number includes eternal candidates. Asks if the school is to hold exams this year in Advanced Modern & Freehand Drawing under the Science and Art Department as were held the year before.
- H F Morland Simpson, 23rd Feb 1900. Aberdeen Grammar School. Writes in reference to a letter from Mrs Smith, mother of Arthur Smith, who enquired about fees. Simpson pointed out to her that Arthur had been absent from 28th Nov to 22nd Dec when the school broke up for holidays and thus her claim for abatement during that time cannot be applied.
- H F Morland Simpson, 26th Feb 1900. Aberdeen Grammar School. Addressed to Mr Finlayson outlining his decision regarding Arthur Smith’s fees [see 23rd Feb 1900]. Outlines the fee adjustment requested by Mrs Smith and states the fees should be paid in full.
- H F Morland Simpson, 12th Mar 1900. Aberdeen Grammar School – Broken Glass, Glenburnie House. Encloses settlement for damage done with snowballs by his students. As their names are not know, he must report the account to the board.
- H F Morland Simpson, 18th Apr 1900. Aberdeen Grammar School. Covers various topics delineated by ‘A’ to ‘C’ plus a PS. A: references double room 7, 8 in his schedule. Asks for any plans for this room to be exactly defined. B: Talks about his proposed changes to funds for medals and prizes. C: Returns the advertisement of the school [?]. PS: Asks if anything will be done for re-seating the reading room which has had to be closed and is affecting funding.
- H F Morland Simpson, 23rd Apr 1900. Aberdeen Grammar School. Nominations to Commissions in the Army. Asking for more details so that he can make a recommendation, as he has a student in mind who might not match all requirements.
- H F Morland Simpson, 26th Apr 1901. Aberdeen Grammar School. Itemises key dates and events on the school’s agenda in preparation for upcoming inspections by R. Blair and G. MacDonald, and estimations for how much time they will need.
- H F Morland Simpson, 26th Apr 1900. Aberdeen Grammar School. A two-page list of names (approximately 263 pupils) and amounts raised for the Penny Subscription Fund. The total amount came to £6 14s or 1608 pence.
- H F Morland Simpson, 30th Apr 1900. Aberdeen Grammar School. Army Commissions. Gives more detail on the student he is considering (see 23rd Apr 1900). The main impediment is his age as he will not turn 18 until next October.
- H F Morland Simpson, 3rd May 1900. Aberdeen Grammar School. Has enrolled two boys just arrived from Kimberley Place and details their fees. The students are brothers Bertram A Anderson (to pay 15s 6d) and Colin Anderson (11s 6d), sons of W T Anderson, 2 Queen’s Gate. He notes the family will be there for some four months.
- H F Morland Simpson, 8th May 1900. Rector, Aberdeen Grammar School. Writes that a student, Guy Corke [?], had been present for classes for 3.5 weeks and was subsequently intermittently absent. Simpson gives his opinion on how this should affect his fees.
- J S Skea, 28th Feb 1900. St. Paul Street Public School. Asks if the Cooking Teachers get the same terms of sick leave as the other teachers. States Miss Lyon, resident in Glasgow, is improving albeit slowly.
- J S Skea, 21st Mar 1900. St Paul Street Public School, Head Teacher. Notes that the extra work incidental to the alterations in the school lasted exactly two years.
- J S Skea, 28th Mar 1900. St Paul Street Public School, Head Teacher. Asks if it is an office mistake that teachers must return to work on the Monday and not the Tuesday after the April Holidays, referencing the School Board Directory of dates. Relays much worry and discontent among the staff.
- J S Skea, 20th Apr 1900. Head Teacher, St. Paul Street Public School. Encloses £2 10s for the Children’s Penny Fund raised from the school.
- J S Skea, 30th Apr 1900. Head teacher, St. Paul Street Public School. Has become aware that Mr Finlay has been admitted to the new superannuation scheme. Under the terms of the act, it only applied to those who were 55 years old at the time it was passed, yet Mr Finlay has only turned that age now – the same age as himself. He accepted the passage of the act at the time and solicits advice if it is possible for him to join the scheme under the same special terms as Mr Finlay.
- Annie Agnes Skene, 16th Apr 1900. 181 Holburn Street, Aberdeen. Offers her grandfather (James Troup, shoemaker, same address) as surety.
- Jessie E Skinner, 27th Mar 1900. 118 Crown Street, Aberdeen. Offers her father (William Skinner, commission agent, same address) as surety for her role as a Pupil Teacher.
- P Smart, 20th Apr 1900. Frederick Street Public School. Encloses £1 5s 3d for the Children’s Penny Fund for the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Help Society raised from the school.
- J B Spalding, 1900 [date incomplete]. York Street Public School. Notes that morning’s attendance was so low that he advises the class be dismissed without marking the registers.
- J B Spalding, 12th Mar 1900. York Street Public School. Notes that when he attains the age of 65, he will have had 38 years of continuous service for the board, and his pension will amount to £29. He fears that his six years’ service as a Certified Teacher in the Female Orphan Asylum will not count towards this, reducing his pension to £24 10d.
- Alexander Speirs, 2nd Apr 1900. Gavinton, Durris. Sends details of his academic history and two diplomas, presumably to apply for a teaching position.
- Catherine P Stewart, 5th Mar 1900. Middle Public School. Asks to be raised from Grade I to Grade II given her experience – nearly 4 years in service. She passed her Acting Teacher’s Examination in July. She refers to the reference letter written by James C Barnett on the same date.
- Jamesina F Stewart, 6th Mar 1900. Rubislaw Public School. Asks to be raised from Grade I to Grade II given her experience – 3.5 years in service. She passed her Acting Teacher’s Examination in the First Division in July. She refers to the reference letter written by William Robertson on the same date.
- William A Stronach, 23rd Feb 1900. Walker Road Evening School. Asks for 65 forms for the remission of evening school fees.
- William Stuart, 28th Feb 1900. Kittybrewster Evening School. Asks for 100 fee schedules.
- James Sutherland, 21st Feb 1900. Commerce Street Evening School. States the school will have met on 45 evenings by Monday 12th March.
- Christina L Thomson, 27th Feb 1900. 69 Springbank Terrace. Asks the board for an increase in salary as Infant’s Mistress at Walker Road Public School. States the department size has increased to 523 pupils with seating only for 330 while her current salary of £115 is far below that of her colleagues. States she entered service with the board in 1878.
- Christina L Thomson, 24th Mar 1900. 69 Springbank Road. Sends thanks for being informed of her increase in salary to £125 [kept this as the Board Minutes book has a different figure, £120].
- Mary Travers, 3rd Apr 1900. Mannofield. Gives her mother, Helen Travers, same address, as surety.
-
- H W, 27th Apr 1900. Rubislaw Public School, head teacher. £1 4s was collected for the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Help Society.
- A G Wallace, 31st Mar 1900. Central Public School. Writes in reference to an article in that morning’s Free Press which stated that “no pupils are to be allowed to present themselves as candidates at the Pupil Teachers’ examinations on more than two occasions”. Mr Wallace agrees with the limit but offers his opinion that this should not come into effect until May 1901 as several of his pupils who had previously taken the exam twice only continued in education on the understanding that they would get a third chance come May.
- A G Wallace, 13th Apr 1900. Central Public School. As the school was to be used as a Polling Station on the 19th April, the science classes from 10-11 am and 2-3 pm will not meet. The evening science classes were to be shifted to the 18th April.
- A G Wallace, 1st May 1900. Central Public School. Encloses £1 6s collected by the school for the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Help Society, noting that each pupil was limited to 1s at most.
- John Watson, 22nd Feb 1900. Rosemount Evening School. Asks for 100 copies of the return of fees form.
- Margaret C Watson, 17th Mar 1900. 431 Great Western Road, Aberdeen. Offers herself as candidate for Assistant Sewing Mistress in the Girls High School, recently vacated by Miss Gordon who transferred to Walker Road School. Miss Watson gives details on her training / working background and offers several character witnesses including Mr McBain (headmaster of the Girls High School), Miss Daniel (Girls High School) and Mrs Crabbe (sewing mistress at Broomhill and Ferryhill schools).
- A G Wallace, 9th Mar 1900. Central Public School. Summarises notes on the Science and Art Grants of the previous year – Science £306 11s 4d, Art £91 4d, Supplementary Science £78. There may have been further shillings and pence in addition to the Supplementary. Adds a PS for the Scholarship Returns – 1st (32), 2nd (11), 3rd (1).
- R W Watson, 12th Mar 1900. Broomhill Public School, head teacher. Calculates the amount of his pension to be between £43 and £44 and gives his employment history since leaving training in 1866. Notes he reached the age of 55 the previous October.
- R W Watson, 19th Mar 1900. Broomhill Public School, head teacher. Pension. Gives calculations to arrive at a more precise figure of £42 17s 7d.
- R W Watson, 11th Apr 1900. Broomhill Public School. Asks for Mr A M Robb (M.A.) to be transferred from Woodside School to Broomhill school given Mr Mackay’s resignation. Mr Robb would find this more convenient given his area of residence.
- James Wilkie, 24th Mar 1900. 6 Ferryhill Terrace, Aberdeen. Having examined the Aberdeen School Board Member’s Directory he discovered that Mr William Ogilvie of Ashley Road School, on Grade IV like himself, has a salary £5 higher. Having checked previous directories he concludes this gap had been in effect for some time, and if there was equality he should be owed £20, however Mr Wilkie’s initial salary was fixed at a different amount. Asks for the clerk’s opinion on the matter before it is presented to the board.
- James Wilkie, 4th Apr 1900. 6 Ferryhill Terrace, Aberdeen. Encloses a statement he made that appeared in a recent Aberdeen Journal article, unsanctioned. Apologises for having brought the matter to the clerk’s attention given its lack of urgency and lack of effect upon himself. Notes that he has discovered that another assistant on the same scale as himself has been paid a higher salary for four years now. Asks for his previous request to be rescinded from the board meeting minutes.
- James Wilkie, 4th Apr 1900. 6 Ferryhill Terrace, Aberdeen. Written in a more personal tone, he apologises at length for having given the wrong, or poor, impression with remarks made at a recent meeting. Notes that he has been teaching for 10 years and references his salary of £105. This letter appears to have been written after the one above.
- Charles A Williamson (of Middle School), 11th Apr 1900. 72 Wales Street, Aberdeen. Gives his father (James Williamson, Harbour Meter, same address) as surety.
- Christina Wilson, 30th Mar 1900. 31 Jamaica Street, Aberdeen. Gives her father (William Wilson, settmaker, same residence) as surety.
- Mary Wood, 4th Apr 1900. 22 Braemar Place, Aberdeen. Gives Alfred John Wood (Inspector of Branches, North of Scotland Bank. Aberdeen) as her surety. |