ABERNYTE PARISH SCHOOL
1864
April 4 93 scholars present. Several cases of scarlet fever
11 Some symptoms of whooping cough. Much coughing
12 Ordinary business of school Geography and Dictation
13 Ordinary business of school Geography and Dictation. Coughing more
general
14 Scarlet fever disappears but coughing very ominous
20 Whooping cough now very general
21 3 scholars taken scarlet fever today
25 One boy – one of the youngest died today of scarlet fever. School work
listed for week Geography, Dictation, Grammar and Arithmetic.
May 2 School much thinned by whooping cough
6 One boy played truant today
17 Whooping cough very prevalent
24 Two boys and a girl ill with gastric fever
30 Visit from Mrs Playfair (Heritor?)
June 6 Whooping Cough disappearing
9 Visited by Lat(?) Brown of Lochton and Mr McLaven
20 One scholar laid up with Smallpox
21 School Establishment: Master Alex Tweedie 3 rd class division
Indecipherable signature HM Inspector (? Legal Requirement)
BLANK IN LOG BOOK UNTIL FOLLOWING DATE;-
Aug 18 School today vacated for two months
Oct 18 Children at Potato Lifting School shut for another week.
25 Opened today with a few scholars
1865
Jan 12 School having gradually increased since opening is now very full.
Scholars’ soiree tonight
Feb 7 School very full – Heritors visited school and agreed to enlarge school-
house
Mar 16 Presbyter Examination today. Passed off very pleasantly
22 Masons commenced to build addition
Apr 3 Received Notice of Inspectors Visit
Oct 16 Opened school with 10
27 Classes beginning to form
Nov 10 Spent a considerable part of the week in giving lessons in Geography and
Dictation.
23 School filling up well
Dec 15 Singing and Bible History covered into a considerable extent this week
2
1866
Jan 6 Soiree for children – illustrations by M Lant both amusing and instructive
Feb 10 Map drawing commenced
Mar 7 Exam by Committee of Presbytery – some excellent maps drawn by
higher classes
23 Several of the advanced scholars have left. Not so many in the 5 th
Standard as might have been.
What happened to 1867 – no records
1868
Apr 2 Inspectors visited today 90 or 91 present. Did well.
3 Inspectors Holiday
24 Received Inspection Report
May 11 Received Sup Grant
21 Holiday for Queens Birthday
June 27 The Misses Bannerman visited the School
30 Thursday Friday
July 1 Holidays Communion
12 Visit from Miss Bannerman
13 Salary raised to the maximum
22 Scholars fete at Rossie Priory
Aug 3 Visit from Miss Bannerman – 4 th visit from Mr Brown, Lochton
(6 vacated)
Oct 6 Very few scholars
13 School filling very slowly
16-23 School filling very slowly
20-27 School filling very slowly
Nov 30 Considerable increase this week.
1869
Jan 6 Mr Brown of Lochton (one of our kindest heritor) died today
School Soiree
Feb 1 Visit from Lord Kinnaird and Alex Geekie
17 Presbytery Exam. Present: Rev Graham-Errol, Mr McKay-Dundee
Mr Leitch-Abernyte and Lord Kinnaird
Mar 26 Notice of Inspectors visit
Apr 1 Arranged standards for Inspectors’ visit
2 Arranged standards for Inspectors’ visit
8 Inspectors visit: 83 present. 12 o’clock got notice from Mr. Leitch that
Inspector is not to be here today; most annoying. The attendance at this
Time of year is so uncertain that no satisfactory examination can now be
expected this season.
Apr 19-23 Many scholars at field work this week
May 1 Inspection visit Saturday. Lord Kinnaird present
Alex Tweedie cert. teacher
J Macklie 1 year P.T
7 Received Inspectors Report and Government Grant
3
30 Visit from he Misses Bannerman.
Aug 5 Annual treat to Rossie Priory
12 Vacated for two months
Oct 26 School filling slowly
Nov 22 Commenced sewing again
29 18 new scholars today
Dec 11 School well filled now – attendance regular
24 Colds, sore throats prevalent this week
30 Attendance thin. Snow storm. Weather very bad.
1870
Jan 7 Hansel Monday holidays. One case of scarlatina
13 th Annual Soiree – good.
Mar 18 I got notice of Inspector Visit
Apr 4 Inspector visit staff.
Alex Tweedie Cert 111/2
John Mackie P.J. 2 nd year
Miss Drysdale Sewing Mistress
25 Received Inspectors Report
31 Government Grant
Aug 1 4 th Annual Fete at Rossie Priory
12 School vacated for 2 months
Oct 12 Few scholars at opening
Nov 14 School filling quite well
Dec 16 All classes working well
22 Severe snow storm
23 Severe snow storm
1871
Jan 5 Annual Soiree: Christmas Tree, Magic Lantern, Musical Class
Mar 17 3 or 4 left for field work already
22 Notification of Inspector Visit
31 Several left this work for field work
Apr 10 Inspected the School. Alex Tweedie iii/2 master
John Mackie P7 3 rd year
Miss Drysdale Sewing Mistress
“No Pupil Numbers”
Apr 21 Very low attendance – weather very severe
May 12 Received Inspectors Report
15 Received Government Grant
June 27 Visit from Miss Bannerman
July 7 Many at field work
Aug 11 Visit from Mrs and Miss Bannerman
18 Vacated for 2 months
Oct 23 Few scholars yet
30 One girl laid up with scarlet fever
Nov 23 Scarlet fever spreading this week. School filling very slowly
4
Nov 30 Attendance still thin. Scarlet Fever still on the increase
Dec 22 Scarlet Fever disappearing. Scholars still coming out slowly
1872
Jan 19 One case of smallpox
Feb 23 Several left for field work
Mar 19 Notice of Inspectors Visit. Presbytery Exam.
Apr 12 A good many have left for field work
18 School Inspected: Staff – Alex Tweedie iii/1 master
Agnes Tweedie P.7 1 st Year
Miss Drysdale Sewing Mistress
“No mention of percentage of pupils present”
May 20 Received Inspection Report and Government Grant
Aug 2 School think – many at field work
Entries to Year End – As previous entries – School gradually increasing
Annual Soiree
1873
May 16 School Inspected: 24 boys, 30 girls
Staff: Mr Tweedie, Miss Drysdale (sewing mistress)
June 13 Inspectors Report “The work is somewhat elementary for a parish school,
but it is on the whole well done. The Master’s daughter translated French
narrative very fairly”
19 Visit from Mr Bannerman and Mr Menzies
July 14 Visit from Mr Bannerman and Mr Menzies
Aug 7 Visit from Miss Bannerman
Dec 28 Very restless and noisy
1874
Jan 2 Good attendance. Class 1 commenced to read History of Scotland
9 Annual Soiree. Magic Lantern, Christmas Tree, Music, Glasses, Singing
Apr 10 2 cases of measles
13 Measles spreading rapidly
17 Upward of 30 laid up with measles today. Using disinfectant freely about
school premises.
20-24 Almost the whole school laid up this week with measles. The average
attendance for this week only 17.
27 A few more cases. Attendance only a little better than last week.
May 8 Attendance not much better. Measles disappearing but many have gone to
field work.
June 23 Inspected the school. Present 38 boys, 30 girls total 68
Staff same as last year
June 28 Inspectors Report and Government Grant. Report as followed:-
“The instructions as in former years is too elementary. The read up and
handwriting are good. Geography and grammar fair. The accounts and
the portfolios should have been in the school on the day of inspection”
Staff as last year. Entry report signed Charles Playfair (Correspondent)
5
Dec 2 One boy died after two days illness of malignant typhus fever – using
disinfectants freely.
18 Scholars very restless and noisy; much time spent keeping order
21-25 Still rude and noisy
1875
Feb 24 Visit from Mr Wilson. Exam some classes
24 Visit from Mr Menzies. Exam some classes
Mar 26 Visit from Mr Menzies. Exam some classes
Apr 16 Several gone to field work
19-23 Many at field work. Very unsatisfactory attendance
26-30 Attendant very unsatisfactory. 1 st , 2 nd and 3 rd classes much reduced
Some gone to field work.
May 3-7 Attendance no better
17-21 Many at work – will not be regular at school all summer
31 One laid up with scarlatina
June 7-11 Another case of scarlatina
July 1 Inspectors Visit. Present 26 boys, 23 girls
17 Inspectors report “The school is efficiently taught and makes a very good
appearance in elementary work. There is no school board offices and the
attendance is very irregular”
Staff same as last year. Charles Playfair (Correspondent)
1876
June 9 Present 47 boys and 35 girls
Inspectors visit – Alex Walker H.M.I.S and J.Munro Assistant
July 26 Copy written in Log Book (1 st indication of some officialdom)
“The arithmetic throughout the school was very inaccurate and the
spelling of the 3 rd standard was not good. Those in the fourth, fifth
and sixth standard did not know their geography and history and
those in the third standard had not done prescribed grammar. The
reading and handwriting were creditable. The singing by ear as very fair,
and the children were under good discipline”. “My Lords have ordered a
deduction of one tenth to be made from the Grant for faults of instruction
(article 31). I am also to warn you that the Register must be kept strictly
in accordance with the regulations laid down by their Lordships, otherwise
a severe deduction may be made from the Grant under article 32(b)”
Miss Drysdale is recognised as qualified under article 32 (cl.3)
Staff: Alex Tweedie iii/1 Master
Miss Drysdale Assistant
Signature: Charles Geo.Playfair (correspondent)
Note: Alex Walker H.M.I.S. visited the school from 1870. Rather cryptic reports were
put in the log book. 1873 first entry of Inspectors Report. Generally three sentences until
1876. Miss Drysdale on staff from 1870 as sewing mistress. 1876 entered as ‘assistant’
1877
Present 45 boys, 38 girls total 83.
Staff: Tweedie, Miss Drysdale (ast. 32(c) 3) and Mr Munro (assistant)
Aug 20-24 Usual school work – children disposed to be idle!
6
1877 cont
Sep 19 Inspectors Report “The school with the same comparatively large
attendance as last year has improved in efficiency. The grammar of the
3 rd , fifth and sixth standards and the Geography and History are still not
what they might be. Miss Drysdale does her share of the work well”
“As in spite of the warning given last year, my Lords have again cause to
complain of the way in which the Registers have been kept; they have
ordered a deduction of one tenth to be made from the grant. I am to
point out that the Registers themselves are altogether unfitted for carrying
out the official regulations contained in circular 65”
Staff: Alex Tweedie, Master. Miss Agnes Drysdale Ast 32c3
Charles Playfair (correspondent)
Dec 3- 7 Good attendance. Classes all arranged – very noisy
10-14 Full attendance – more orderly but still noisy
Regular visits over 2 years from Mr Playfair, Mr & Mrs Menzies
1878
June 14 School Inspected present 74
July 9 Inspectors Report:
“The school is in decidedly good condition. The standard of work was
very well done and the Grammar, Geography and History were
satisfactory. The singing was good and the industrial work, as well as
Miss Drysdale’s share of the elementary teaching, efficiently done.”
Staff: Alex Tweedie and Miss Drysdale
July 22-26 Examinations mentioned:
Mr Wilson examined Arithmetic and Bible
Mr Menzies Bible Classes. Mr Wilson, Playfair, Ritchie and the Misses
Bannerman examined sewing and knitting.
Oct 22 Miss Drysdale leaves for teacher of Priorwell, Balmerino
Miss Margaret Walker from ????,m Brechin appointed
Dec 2- 6 The school did not meet this week because f the sickness and death of the
of the Master’s family. The attendances thus lost will be made up by
opening the school on Saturdays and other holidays before the end of the
present school year.
1879
Feb 17-21 Very bad attendance, the result of severe snow storm: the road being all
but impassable.
24-28 Still severe weather. Irregular attendance.
Mar 17-21 Renewal of snow storm – still severe weather
Apr 7-11 Attendance still very irregular – bad weather
21-25 A good many absent – at field work
May 2 Received examination schedules
June 20 Inspected school – present 27 boys and 25 girls
7
1879 continued
July 18 Inspectors Report:
“With a smaller attendance than last year, owing to removals from the
district, the school makes a very creditable appearance in elementary
work. The younger classes showed very fair intelligence and the five
above the third standard did their Grammar, Geography and History
satisfactory. Miss Walker does her share of the work well. Better
arrangements should be made for separating her classes from Mr.
Tweedies.
Miss Walker is recognised as qualified under article 32(c) 3
Staff: Alex Tweedie, Miss Walker
Charles Playfair (Correspondent)
Nov 2 Re-opened. Only 2 present this week. Nearly all being busy at potato
lifting. Slow increase in numbers throughout the month.
Dec 1-5 School well filled now, but very rude and noisy.
1880
Mar 1 Got four new maps
Apr 2 Many of the older folk being at field work
Apr 5- 9 One case of measles – using disinfectants about school
19-23 Another case of measles this week
May 10-14 Another case of measles
June 4 Inspectors Visit. Present 39 boys and 26 girls
July 3 Inspectors Report “Except the writing of the lower division of the first
standard of the elementary work was thoroughly well done. The
intelligence was satisfactory, and the grammar, geography and history
were very good. Miss Walker does her work well.
Staff same as last year C. Playfair (correspondent)
July Examinations by local ???
Aug 3 Visit from Lord Kinnaird, Prof.& Knight,Messrs Bannerman
and Playfair.
Aug 18 Mr Playfair gave prizes to the seven who had attended school most
regularly during the session.
Aug 19 Gave Holiday for 9 weeks.
“The School Registers have been examined at last once every month
during the session by a committee of The School Board and have been
found correctly marked and up to date”
Signed: Charles Playfair (Correspondent Member)
Dec 3 Increase 17 this week
6-10 Increase 11 this week
13-27 Still increasing but irregular attendance: Snow Storm
20-24 Irregular attendance, still snow frost on road bad
27-31 Better attendance but still snow and frost on road
8
1881
Jan 5 Good attendance. Got 2 new maps Africa and Asia
A present from Mr Menzies
10-31 Weather very severe
Feb 7-11 Very bad weather – snow
14-18 Very bad weather – severe snow storms
21-25 Those present working well, but work still much interrupted by
long continued snowstorm
Mar 4 No improvement in weather or attendance
7-11 Very bad weather, violent snow storm, roads snowed up
14-18 Better attendance – visit by Mr Menzies and Mr Wilson
21-25 Still very bad weather – causing unsatisfactory attendance
Apr 11-16 School open 6 days this week
May 17 Received Notice of Inspectors Visit
“The Registers have been examined once, at least every month, by a
committee of the Board and always found correctly marked. And
everything possible has been done to keep the children regularly at
school, but the attendance was very irregular during the winter months
because of the very severe weather”
Charles Playfair (Clerk to School Board)
Inspector Walker and Munro (assistant)
July 4 “The school continues to be faithfully taught and makes a highly
appearance in elementary work. Miss Walker teaches the younger
scholars well and has her sewing department in excellent order”
Staff same as last year. School closed 1 week later (25 th August and
reopened 2 nd November)
Nov 2 Opened today but no scholars came – all being engaged with potato
lifting and the school was closed until next Monday
Nov 7 Commenced today with four
14-18 A few more this week.
1882
Feb 20 Mr Jas Scott East Ch. Normal College Edinburgh having been engaged
as Assistant Teacher commenced his duties in the school today.
Mar 20-24 Some cases of measles – using disinfectant freely
27-31 Measles still in School, continue to use disinfectant freely
Apr 3- 7 No new cases this week
17-21 One boy laid up with scarlatina
June 29 Entry by C.Playfair statement as last year that registers have been kept
“correctly and honestly” (see June 1881)
30 Inspection: Present 35 boys and 25 girls
Staff: Alex Tweedie
Mr James Scott Prob.Assistant
Miss Walker Assistant Art 32c3
9
July 21 Inspectors Report:
“All the work of the school was good except the Grammar, Geography
and History of the 5 th Standard, the senior class. Mr. Scott’s classes
gave evidence of vigorous and careful teaching, and Miss Walker’s
pupils did very well.
Aug 31 Mr Scott’s engagement as assistant terminated on the 4 th
Dec 11-15 Good attendance. Boys, especially those who have been at farm work
during Summer, very rude and noisy. Causing great trouble and loss of
time in keeping order.
1883
Mar 26-30 2 cases of whooping cough
Apr 2- 6 Whooping cough spreading very fast, many cases this week
9 Mr John Walkie from Blairgowie School commenced duties as Assistant
Master this day
9-13 Whooping cough very prevalent this week causing unsatisfactory
attendance
16-20 An improvement in whooping cough
23-27 Bad attendance again
Apr 30-May 4 Very bad attendance all this week. Whooping cough and potato planting
May 7-11 Attendance still very discouraging
June 1 Whooping cough disappearing
4-8 Large attendance – many new entrants within the last few weeks
8 “The registers have been examined at least once a month during the past
year by a committee of the Board with the view to discovering and
dealing with absentees. The Registers have always been found to be
marked up to date and believed by the Board to be correct”
C. Playfair
June 14 School Inspection: Present 33 boys, 32 girls and 3 staff
15 Inspector Holiday
July 2 “The elementary work was god except the analysis of the fifth and sixth
standards. The intelligence was satisfactory and the geography and
History were good. Mr Wilkie does his part of the work fairly and Miss
Walker very well”
Staff : Mr. Tweedie Cert. Mr Wilkie Assist 79, Miss Walker 32
Oct 25 Mr John Wilkie resigned having got another appointment
Oct 30 Opened today with 13
Nov 19 Mr. John W Christie from Dundee High School, formerly a pupil teacher
in Regent Street School, London began teaching here; he having been
appointed Assistant Art. 79 in place of Mr Wilkie
Dec 17-21 Fewer children in the district this year – a number of families having
removed at the term.
10
1884
May 5-9 Received this week the forms for Annual Returns (1 st mention of these)
9-13 One case said to be measles. Disinfecting school with chloride of lime
School Inspection 37 boys and 39 girls – 3 staff
July 9 “The standard of work expect some of the arithmetic of the sixth was
very well done. The Grammar and History satisfactory. Mr. Christie’s
share of the work was creditably done and Miss Walker’s classes were
in excellent order.”
July 14-18 Attendance unsatisfactory. Turnip clearing
21-25 Attendance unsatisfactory . Turnip clearing
July 28-Aug 1 Attendance unsatisfactory. Turnip clearing
Aug 4- 8 A few prizes given for sewing
11-15 Mr Christie resigned – gone to Cupar
Dec 8-12 Very full attendance. Boys very noisy as usual at beginning of session,
causing much loss of time in keeping order.
1885
Jan 12-16 One case of scarlatina – using disinfectant
Mar 6 Mr. William McNauhton, formerly P.T. Invergowrie commenced as
Assistanct A.T.
Mat 4-8 Potato planting
June 10 Inspection. Present 35 boys and 42 girls
July 6 Inspectors Report:
“The standard work was done without failure and very few mistakes; the
Grammar, Geography and History were good and the intelligence
satisfactory. Singing and sewing were very good. Miss Walker’s classes
were in excellent order and Mr McNaughton is to be commended for his
share of the work. Staff 3
Aug 10-14 A few prices given for bible knowledge and sewing
27 Mr McNaughton resigned – going to study at St Andrew’s University
Dec 14 Nearly all present and working well. School smaller than last year – many
having moved at the term
1886
Feb-March Very bad weather. Severe snowstorms
Mar 8 Mr John MacBeth commenced duties as assistant teacher (art 70) coming
from Blackford
15-19 Very bad attendance. Only 1/3 of scholars present. Violent snow storm
continued.
April 5 4 boys at field work
May 4 Received papers for annual return
28 Terse entry by Mr Playfair “As in former years the registers have been
examined monthly by a Committee of the Board
June 9 Inspection: Present 34 boys 34 girls (3 staff) (Mr Walker H.M.I.S does
not have assistant)
11
June 21-25 Mention of “New Books”
Inspectors Report “The standard work is this year again done without
failure and almost all the passes are very good ones. The class work is
decidedly well done and the singing and sewing are very good. Mr.
McBeth and Miss Walker deserve much credit for their share of the work”
(3 staff)
June 29 Received annual grant
July Bad attendance – many at field work (for 4 weeks)
Aug 10 A few prizes given for Bible and Sewing
1887
May Annual Returns
June 3 “Again during the past year the Registers have been examined monthly
and also at irregular intervals by the attendance Committee of the Board”
June 6-10 Some cases of whooping cough
15 School Inspection: 32 boys 37 girls
30 “The younger scholars are very well taught by Miss Walker and her
sewing department is well conducted. The standard work was very well
done by the older scholars except some of the Reading was a little
indistinct. The class subject so of English, Geography and History had
been on the whole creditably prepared. Singing by ear, accompanied on
the harmonium was good”
Aug 11 Mr. McBeth leaves to go and study at St. Andrew’s University
Oct 18 Opened today with 5 girls
Nov 14-18 One girl laid down with Scarlet Fever
21-25 Another case of scarlet fever this week
Dec 5-9 A good many cases of scarlet fever this week and consequently the school
is smaller than it would otherwise be. Using disinfectant freely.
12-16 Scarlet fever still prevalent
20-30 Scarlet fever appears to be spreading again. Attendance very irregular
chiefly on account of sickness. This is keeping back the school work
terribly.
1888
Jan 5 Several families still laid up with scarlet fever, also one with measles
now. All this is telling terribly against the general progress of the school
9-13 Attendance still unsatisfactory – fever and measles
16 Mr James Low, certificated teacher and former master of Carmunnoch
School commenced duties as assistant
16-20 Fever and measles still affecting attendance
23-27 Fever and measles still affecting attendance
30-31 Feb 1 Some new cases of measles again
Feb 6-10 Fever patients not nearly all back at school yet
12
13-17 No new cases of measles or fever – but many still not back at school
Mar 12-16 Very bad attendance in consequence of a violent snow storm. Toward the
end of the week the storm was so severe that the school was closed on
Friday
May 1 Annual returns received
June 1 Replica Copy from Attendance Committee
4 School inspected (different H.M.I)
July 2 “This school is efficiently conducted and makes an exceptionally high
pass in the standard examination. The penmanship however might easily
be improved. A very good appearance is made in the class subjects with
the exception that the Geography of the 5 th Standard is scarcely so fully
or accurately known as it should be. The junior division has been well
taught and creditable needlework was shown. I have had some hesitation
in continuing the higher Discipline Grant and will look for improvement
in the future.
Oct 30 School was again closed today because of the lateness of the harvest and
the potato lifting till next Monday
Nov 4 Opened today with 14
1889
June 18-21 Very bad attendance. Some gone to the fields. A greater number laid up
with sore throats
July 8 Inspector Report: “This school continues to make a very good appearance
in the standard work and the class subjects have, as a rule, been fully and
satisfactorily well prepared. The intelligence, History and Geography of
the 5 th Standard is still below the quality of these subjects in the other
classes.”
“More expression and better phrasing might also be expected in reading.
The exercises are now written with creditable case and neatness and the
class movements more carefully and quietly executed. The needlework is
satisfactory”
July 9-12 The school has been very small this week. Some are at field work others
laid up with inflammatory sore throats. Two – a brother and sister have
died since last Friday.
15-19 Attendance worse and worse
22-26 No improvement. Average attendance for week. Boys 13.8 Girls 21.6
Average on inspection eek 29 boys 43 1/3 girls
Total average inspection week 27 1/3 This week only 35.4
1890
Feb 4 Holiday. School needed for Polling for C.Council
Apr 21-25 3 cases of measles this week. Using disinfectant freely about school
premises
13
May 2 Another case of measles. A very bad attendance this week. Only a
month ago the average attendance was about 83 – it has dwindled
since then to 53
May 5-9 Attendance exceptionally low. About 50 laid with measles now
12-16 Epidemic of measles now abating
June 2-7 School now open 6 days this week.