PAGE 186
1872
Commenced duties as Mistress of Leverstock Green
School.
Alethea Bonaker
Jan.1st- The Rev. G. Finch present at the opening. Attendance poor - 20 children. The greater part of the week spent in arranging the school.
Jan.3rd Wednesday- The Rev. G. Finch visited the school - attendance better.
Jan. 4th- Admitted four children - found them very backward.
Jan. 5th - Mrs. Finch visited the school in the afternoon.
Jan. 8th- Admitted 6 children - attendance much better - number ( 45 ). Rev. G. Finch visited the school.
Jan.10th- Found by examination that the first standard could not do subtraction. The 1st & 2nd classes very backward in spelling - owing.............
January 1872-...to omission of dictation lessons being given by the late mistress to those classes.
Jan. 11th- The Rev. G. Finch and Mrs. Finch visited the school in the afternoon.
Jan. 12th- School visited by Mr. Hilton ( The Rev. C. J. Robinson's assistant) a visit made to verify the fulfilment of the conditions on which grants are made.
Jan. 14th - Admitted two boys - one aged 12 yrs. - found he could not write nor cypher could read a little. The Rev. G. Finch visited the school in the morning. Attendance increased ( 50 in number ) The work of the school improved - children having got more into the plan of school work.
Jan 17th- The 1st & 2nd classes wrote an abstract on their Holy Scripture lesson............
1872..........The Birth of Christ, very fairly done. Taught two hymns - children learnt the tunes very quickly seem to have an ear for music.
18th- A meeting held in class room of school to settle school matters. The Rev. G. Finch with two or three of the committee visited the school.
19th- The Rev. G. Finch took the 1st & 2nd classes to Holy Scripture for half an hour.
23rd - Attendance poor
- owing to the bad weather - school visited by the Rev. G. Finch.
24th - Rev.G. Finch visited the school - brought with him the Government Examination Papers.
26th- Weather still very bad.......
1872....Attendance poor in consequence.
29th- Admitted three children - found by examination all three could write and read very fairly - very backward in arithmetic. The Rev. G. Finch visited the school in the afternoon. Attendance improved - numbers present 54.
30th- Numbers very fair. Took three children's names off the book having found by enquiry that they were unable to attend during the bad weather on account of the distance.
Feb.1st.- School visited by the Rev. G. Finch in the afternoon. - Attendance good, numbers 58 - 1st & 2nd classes.......
1872.......wrote an abstract on their Holy Scripture Lesson. The birth of Moses, with great satisfaction.
February 2nd - Attendance very fair throughout the week.
Feb. 5th - The school visited by the Rev. G. Finch in the morning.
Feb.6th- Attendance very fair ( 54 ) The weather being better.
Feb. 7th- Gave children a half - holiday in order to have school-room cleaned for government examination.
Feb. 8th - School examined by the Rev. W.R.Wilton H.M. Inspector. School visited by the Rev. G. Finch - children had a half-holiday in the afternoon.
Feb.9th - The Rev. G. Finch took the 1st & 2nd classes to Holy Scripture for half an hour.
Feb. 12th 1872- Re-admitted two children. Numbers on the books 63.
Feb.13th - School visited by the Rev. G. Finch & Mrs. Finch in the afternoon.
Feb. 14th- Took 1st, 2nd & 3rd classes to church - it being Ash Wednesday.
Feb. 16th- The Rev. G. Finch took 1st & 2nd classes to Holy Scripture.
Feb.19th- Admitted a boy - school visited by Rev. G. Finch in the morning.
Feb. 20th - Eliza May came to see whether she could fill the vacant Pupil Teachership.
Feb. 21st - Took 1st & 2nd classes to church for quarter of an hour. Attendance very fair.
The work of school improving.
1872
23rd - The Rev. G. Finch took the 1st & 2nd classes to Scripture Lesson.
26th - Admitted a boy - Attendance very fair. Taught IV standard weights and measures, and standard III compound rule.
27th- Gave the children a half-holiday it being the Thanksgiving for the recovery of the Prince of Wales.
28th- Took children to church for half an hour.
30th - The Rev. G. Finch took the 1st & 2nd classes to Holy Scripture.
5th - Attendance very fair - the weather being better. - School visited by the Rev. G. Finch in the morning.
7th - Admitted one boy - number on books 70. Taught a school song - and two rounds to school.
8th - Moved two children from 4th class into 3rd. the Rev. G. Finch visited the school. Took 1st & 2nd classes to Holy Scripture and examined III class in arithmetic ( nummeration ).
12th - Attendance good the weather being more favourable - Gave 1st standard first dictation lesson.
13th - The Rev. G. Finch and Mrs. Finch visited the school in the morning - Gave 4th & 5th classes a lesson in mental arithmetic - the children worked very fairly indeed.......
1872.......seemed more interested than they have hitherto been - I think this may be attributed to my using an Abacus as a means of illustrating examples.
14th - Many absentees it being market day.
15th - The Rev. G. Finch took 1st & 2nd classes to Holy Scripture - also examined class III in arithmetic ( numeration ) - attendance good.
18th- The Rev. G. Finch visited the school in the morning.
20th - Taught 1st & 2nd classes to work sums in long measure.
23rd - A very wet day - attendance very poor in consequence.
Monday 18th - Summary of H.M. Inspector's report.
"The school has suffered much from the change of teachers. Miss Bonaker has begun well. The children are in good order, and the attainments, under the circumstances are fair."
A Bynoth's name has been removed from the register of Pupil Teachers."
Alethea Bonaker, Certificated Mistress, Probationer.
25th - School visited by the Rev. G. Finch - many absentees.
27th - Mrs. Finch visited the school in the afternoon.
28th - Closed school for a fortnight.
1872 - April 14th - Re - opened school - attendance very good - admitted 10 new children - numbers present 64. The Rev. G. Finch visited school in the morning.
15th - Alice Burrage commenced duties as Pupil Teacher.
16th - The Rev. G. Finch visited school in the afternoon.
17th - School visited by Miss Key in the afternoon.
20th - Attendance good - numbers 65 - The Rev. G. Finch took 1st & 2nd classes to Holy Scripture.
23rd - Numbers good still - admitted two children - moved three of 3rd class children into 2nd class - taught standard II simple multiplication & division. Rev. G. Finch visited school in the afternoon.
1872 -25th - Many absentees it being market day. Taught children a song in the afternoon.
26th - The Rev. G. Finch took 1st & 2nd classes to scripture.
May 1st - Rather a poor school - children kept away to go Maying.
3rd - Attendance good. Admitted two children.
6th - Numbers better still - number on books 90, in attendance 70. Admitted one girl.
7th - Mrs. Finch visited school in the afternoon.
9th - Holy Thursday. Took 1st 2nd & 3rd classes to church in the morning - gave a half-holiday.
10th - The Rev. G. Finch took 1st & 2nd classes to Catechism.
13th - Many absentees - the weather being so unfavourable - admitted one girl - 13 years old.
1872
Taught children two school songs and a round.
16th - Mrs. Finch visited school in the afternoon, heard children sing.
17th - The Rev. G. Finch took 1st & 2nd classes to Catechism and heard them repeat collects. Miss Margaret Key visited school, heard children sing was much pleased with singing. A very poor school in the afternoon a very wet afternoon. Closed school for two days.
21st - Opened school on Wednesday of Whitsun week. Attendance very bad. Numbers small all the week.
27th - Attendance much improved ( number 74 ). Admitted six children, one girl 13 years old, found by examination that three out of the six could not cipher at all.
1872
30th - Several absentees - it being market & fair day at Hemel Hempstead.
31st - The Rev. G. Finch took 1st & 2nd classes to Catechism.
June 2nd - Attendance good admitted two children - number on books 89. Moved two boys from 4th class into III class. - taught standard IV long division in weights & measures. The Rev. Finch visited the school in the morning.
5th - Mrs. Finch visited the school in the afternoon - inspected the needlework.
6th - Weather very unfavourable - attendance poor in consequence.
9th - Weather still bad - admitted two children. The Rev. G. Finch visited school in the morning.
12th - Attendance better, weather.......
1872
..........being more favourable. Taught 4th class a new school song - gave same class a dictation lesson. The majority of children did it very satisfactorily.
15th - The Rev. G. Finch took 1st & 2nd classes to church - Catechism, and looked over dictation of same classes.
17th - Admitted four children ( infants ). One boy very fretful in the morning - was not at all reconciled to the school till end of week. Re-admitted Emma Tarbox who had left a few weeks previous to go to service.
19th - Commenced school at half past 1 o'clock, wishing to dismiss before usual time on account of a practice for a Choral festival. - Numbers good. Took four names off books.
1872
20th - Mrs. Finch visited school in the afternoon - took a reading lesson.
21st - The Rev. G. Finch took 1st & 2nd classes to church Catechism.
24th - Admitted one child - numbers poor - many of the boys being away at hay-making and bird-keeping.
26th - Mrs. Finch visited in the afternoon. Staid an hour.
July 1st- Attendance still poor - boys at work. The Rev.G. Finch visited in the morning. Many more absentees in the afternoon - it being Hemel Hempstead Fete.
3rd - The Rev. G. Finch visited in the afternoon - who noticing the number away kindly undertook to find out the reason of absence.
1872
5th - The Rev. G. Finch took 1st & 2nd classes to church Catechism for half an hour in the morning. Stayed till half past four in school in order to complete some needlework for sale.
8th - Attendance better - but many boys absent - at work. The Rev. G. Finch visited school in the morning. Taught IV standards long division in weights and measures.
9th - Ordinary progress, taught children a new song, three first class began to learn alto.
11th - Mrs. Finch visited in the afternoon - heard children sing - expressed herself much pleases with it.
13th - The Rev. G. Finch took...........
........ 1st & 2nd classes to church Catechism, - also took 1st class to dictation.
22nd - Attendance very fair.
23rd - The Rev. G. Finch visited in the morning - looked over the arithmetic of 1st & 2nd classes.
24th - Mrs. Finch visited and a lady friend - in the afternoon.
25th - Taught III standard long division in money sums.
26th - The Rev. G. Finch took 1st & 2nd classes to church - Catechism.
29th - The school visited by the Rev. G. Finch in the afternoon - attendance good 80 - admitted three children.
31st - Gave a half-holiday - it being a choral festival at Apsley End.
August 2nd - The Rev. G. Finch made a general examination in school in the morning. Attendance good. Broke up the school for midsummer holiday in the afternoon.
September 3rd 1872
Re-opened school after a month's holiday - Attendance very poor indeed - many being absent for gleaning. Average for the week only 47.
5th - The Rev. G. Finch visited the school in the morning, taught the upper divisions of the school a new school song.
1872
8th - Attendance much better. The Rev. G. Finch visited in the morning.
11th - Miss Nina Key and Miss Heale visited in the afternoon. Staid for three quarters of an hour - saw arithmetic of 1st & 2nd classes, heard whole school sing, expressed themselves as much pleased with singing, and staid for the dismissal of the children.
16th - Attendance good - number ( 73 ) admitted two half-timers. The Rev. G. Finch visited in the afternoon. Kept children in from play to practice some singing for their coming Treat.
17th - Attendance very good indeed the weather being so unfavourable.
18th - Admitted two children as half-timers.
1872
Sept. 19th - The School Festival - for which occasion gave a half-holiday. The children Marched in procession to the Vicarage meadow where they spent some time in various games and where had a great variety of toys distributed among them.- they were obliged to leave soon after tea in consequence of the wet weather.
23rd - Attendance every fair indeed find a little improvement in the spelling of the 1st, 2nd & 3rd classes. Taught standard II simple multiplication by two figures. The Rev. G. Finch visited in the morning.
25th - Commenced school at 25 min. past 1 o'clock in order to leave at half past 3 o'clock.
1872
26th - School visited by Mrs. Finch accompanied by two ladies. all inspected work of school the latter expressed much satisfaction in the tone of the school.
29th - Attendance very good. (No. 87 ) Admitted two children.
30th - In consequence of illness was unable to attend school. the pupil teacher with the aid of my sister carry it on for the week. The Rev. G. Finch attended school for two whole mornings to assist in work - in my absence.
October 3rd - Attendance rather lower - it being market day. the weather bad too.
4th - Had 1st class in my sitting room for lessons in the morning.
1872
Oct.7th - Attendance good ( number 84 ) The Rev. G. Finch took 1st & 2nd classes to Holy Scripture the first hour.
8th - Taught standard II short division by two figures and standard III multiplication by hundreds in compound rules. Examined II class in spelling by giving a dictation lesson: found an improvement. Allowed two children to leave school in the afternoon at half past three.
10th - Many absentees - it being market day. The Rev. G. Finch exam. 1st & 2nd classes in Holy Scripture.
11th - Taught children a new hymn. A lady visited school in the afternoon and assisted in the needlework.
14th - Admitted two children. number on books. ( 100).
1872
Oct. 16th - - The Rev. G. Finch examined 1st & 2nd classes in the H. Scripture - Examined the 3rd class in numeration found many still very confused in it.
Taught standard IV reduction in weights and measures with much satisfaction.
Oct. 17th - The Holy Scripture Examination. Gave a half holiday - the attendance of children not registered for the morning as the time was occupied by the Inspector.
18th - Attendance very good.
21st - Weather still bad attendance low in consequence. Left school in charge of monitors in order to take Coal Club for an hour. Examined class III in numeration found an improvement.
1872
21st - Alice Burrage resigned her post as Monitor on account of her mother's ill health. Jesse Jago commenced duties in her place for a fortnight's trial. (* A.Burrage had previously been mentioned as a pupil teacher!)
23rd - Ordinary progress.
24th - Ordinary progress. A poor attendance throughout
25th - the week in consequence of wet weather.
27th - Taught standard III reduction in compound rules ( money) Heard that two infants would be obliged to leave during the winter months - Attendance still poor the weather still wet.
29th - Examined class III in numeration found an improvement.
31st - Taught standard IV square and cubic measure & made them work sums in them.
Gave them also a few miscellaneous questions in compound rules (money). Allowed four children to go home at half past three instead of at four ( time specified in time table) making them commence at 25 past one. The same children asked leave to go home at this hour through the winter months on account of the distance they had to go home.
November 1st - Attendance much better the weather being more favourable.
Nov. 4th - The attendance good. The Rev. G. Finch visited in the morning. Gave the whole school lessons in the afternoon instead of girls having needlework as there was no material in hand for needlework.
Nov. 6th - Mrs. Finch visited in the afternoon heard 1st & 2nd classes read.
1872
8th - Took two childrens names of(f) the books - Taught a new school song. Adopted the plan of keeping in all the children
who came late, some time after school hours, as it became quite a general thing to come to school after commencing in the morning and afternoon.
11th - Attendance good. Admitted three children ( girls ). Found by examination that they were extremely deficient in all subjects. obliged to place them in III class on account of their age. The Rev. G. Finch visited.
12th - Admitted a boy. placed him in the fourth class. Taught 4th class to write down monosylables from dictation. Allowed 6 children to leave at half past 3 o'clock. making them commence at half past 1 o'clock.
13th - By examination of all classes find a little improvement in spelling but still wanting great improvement especially in standard II & III. Commenced home lessons in upper part of school. Adopt a new system of learning to spell, finding such a deficiency in that subject.
15th - Jesse Jago continues duties as paid monitor, being anxious to fill the vacancy of Pupil Teacher. Find her capacities for teaching very fair indeed, taking into consideration her never having been in a National School before.
18th - School visited by the Rev. G. Finch in the morning. Attendance not so goof this week, in consequence of the bad weather. Work going on as usual.
1872
25th - Received a visit of surprise from the Rev. C.J. Robinson ( H.M. Inspector ) who signed the Time Table and inspected the Log Book and made several inquires respecting the condition of the school. After this visit commenced school ( by permission ) at 25 past 1 o'clock in order to close at 25 to four so as to comply with the wish of the parents of several of the children.
27th - Mr. & Mrs. Finch visited in the afternoon instead of needlework because there was no material in hand.
31st - The Rev. G. Finch took 1st & 2nd classes to H. Scripture for first hour of the morning.
December 4th - Rev. G. Finch & Dr. Gee took Clubs in the class room from 11 o'clock to 1. Commenced working my new time table.
Mrs. Finch visited in the afternoon brought some fine needlework. Attendance poor throughout the week in consequence of wet weather.
9th - Went from time table giving a dictation lesson to 1st & 2nd classes instead of letting them do manuscript finding those classes till very deficient in spelling.
Work going on as usual work by timetable. Took four names off books. Average lower this week ( 69 ).
1872
16th - The Rev. G. Finch visited. Admitted a boy, took three names off books. Ordinary progress. Attendance rather poor throughout the week. Rev. G. Finch gave lesson on H. Scripture to I & II classes.
Dec. 20th - Closed school for a fortnight.
1873
January 6th- Re-opened school after Xmas holiday - attendance not so good as before holiday. The Rev. G. Finch visited in the morning. School visited by a gentleman.
9th - Work going on as usual.
10th - Gave girls lessons in the afternoon instead of needlework.
13th - Attendance much better ( No. 84 ). Admitted two children. Mrs. Finch visited in the afternoon. Took four names off the books - Taught children a new round.
Work according to timetable throughout the week. Average for the week - 70.
1873
Jan.20th
The Rev. G Finch visited the school in the morning. Admitted one girl.
23rd - Mrs. Finch & 2 lady friends visited in the afternoon - heard children sing, stayed for the dismissal.
25th - Examined III class in dictation found a decided improvement. Kept the whole school in until half past 12. in order perfect them in their tables. Attendance good throughout the week.
27th - Admitted a girl. School visited by the Rev. G. Finch who heard 4th class read and gave same class dictation.
Ordinary progress, work according to time table.
1873
February 3rd - A heavy fall of snow - attendance consequently very poor indeed - continued to be so throughout the week. - taught all together obliged therefore to go from the time table.
4th - Did not mark the registers as the numbers were so small, highest attendance throughout the week, 26.
10th - Attendance better, weather still very severe. The school visited by the Rev. G. Finch in the morning. Admitted a girl placed in III class. Gave dictation lesson to 1st & 2nd classes
instead of manuscript. Gave test sums in arithmetic throughout the school the whole week. Average for week better.
1873
Feb. 17th - Admitted a girl - re-admitted a boy. Attendance good. ( 70 ) Gave girls lessons in the afternoon instead of needlework. Took Coal Club for Rev. G. Finch.
18th - Mrs. Finch visited in the afternoon. Work going on much as usual. Found by examination that the 4th class could work subtraction sums with borrowing very accurately, also found great improvement in their spelling.
21st - The Rev. G. Finch took 1st & 2nd classes to Holy Scripture the first three quarters hr.
24th - A heavy fall of snow, a poor school in consequence. Taught the whole school together.
26th - Weather better - more children.
26th ( Ash Wednesday ) took upper part of school to church for quarter of an hour (from) half past ten to quarter to eleven - the time specified in Time Table for recreation. Mrs. Finch visited in the morning.
March 2nd -
Attendance much improved. Taught 1st & 2nd classes miscellaneous equasions ( written as E4: ) the whole week finishing them so dull at them. Commenced teaching standard II compound rules in money ( their new standard work.)
7th - The Rev. G. Finch took 1st & 2nd classes to Holy Scripture from 9.15 to 9.55.
10th - Gave a holiday in order to have school room cleaned in readiness for the inspection.
11th - Attendance good.
1873
March 12th - The Rev. C.J. Robinson ( H.M.I.) inspected the school. Attendance good. Numbers ( 80 ) - the day fine. The Rev. G. Finch present. Gave a half-holiday in the afternoon.
14th - A fall of snow. Attendance poor in consequence.
17th - Many absentees. Commenced new work in standard II & III. Admitted 1 girl, took two names off the books. Work according to time table throughout the week.
23rd - Attendance much better, weather favourable. Admitted a girl. Children go out to play the playground having been made fit.
27th - The Rev. G. Finch visited. Taught standard IV new work, also standard V.
1873
31st - Attendance improved. Admitted two girls and 1 boy, the latter 7 years of age, did not know the alphabet.
April 4th - The Rev. G. Finch took the two first classes to Holy Scripture.
7th - Numbers not so good some of the boys at work. Mrs. Finch visited in the afternoon. Taught a new school song. Allowed children to do needlework every afternoon this week it being reqested by several in order to give them time to finish some needlework before the Easter vacation.
9th - School visited by the Rev. G. Finch & Mrs. Finch.
1873
April 10th -
Closed school for a fortnights holiday - (Easter )
April 28th
Reopened school. Attendance poor owing to many of the bigger boys being at field work. Admitted 14 fresh over all being young being obliged to place them in the IV and V classes consequently having a much larger proportion of children in the lower part of the school than in the upper. Several of the elder girls away learning sewing ( hats). Took two boys names off the books 1st class register.
1873
The Rev. G. Finch visited in the morning. Mrs. Finch and another lady in the afternoon.
May 1st- Attendance very bad greater number of children "Maying" Gave a half-holiday on account of it. Time spent chiefly this week on recapitulation of new standard work taught before the holidays. Average for the week( 69.)
May 3rd - Attendance improved,admitted two fresh children. No on books 108. The Rev. G. Finch visited in the morning.
7th - Left school in charge of P. Teacher for half an hour being obliged to witness the signing of Jesse Jagos (P.T.) indentures.
1873
May 8th - Spent an hour instead of half an hour in giving 1st & 2nd classes catches in dictation which proved satisfactory. Taught a new school song.
9th - Ordinary progress. Work according to the time table. Attendance better throughout the week.
11th - Several boys absent at work. The Rev. G. Finch visited in the morning. Taught standard IV cloth measure.
14th - Mrs. Finch visited school in the morning - heard 1st & 2nd classes read. Two more girls left to learn hat-sewing. Attendance for the week very fair. Nothing of importance during the........
1873
...........week.
18th - Attendance good, several infants who had left for the winter months returned. - Two of the elder girls left for a time to learn sewing hats.
Taught standard IV long division in weights and measures. to do this gave an hour to this subject ( Arithmetic) instead of half as specified in Time Table.
19th - Mrs. Finch visited in the morning.
Ceased to have recreation in the afternoon and shortened the time allowed for infants from half an hour to a quarter, the whole school thus having the same time. Intended altering the time table but thought it advisable to wait for the approval of H.M.Inspector at some future time.
Commenced school at 5 min. to 1. and dismissed at 15 min. past 3. in order to have room got in readiness for a lecture on the evening.
1873
23rd - Ordinary progress - work according to Time Table. The attendance throughout the week much better.
26th - Admitted two children ( infants ). Two boys left for a time to go to work.
28th -The Rev. G. Finch visited in the morning. Commenced scho
