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Article REMOVAL OF THE BOYS SCHOOL. ← Page 2 of 3 Article REMOVAL OF THE BOYS SCHOOL. Page 2 of 3 →
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Removal Of The Boys School.
( b ) In Bates ; ( c ) In cost of water , & c . ; and that , as a necessary consequence , any loss of capital in disposing of the present site will be regained by the greater benefits to be conferred , and the economy to be made in the working of a school adapted for our present and future needs .
The Board has pride in pointing to its successful management and to the great strides and successes of the school during the past few years ( See Appendix H . )—the members can claim to be representative and business men , and they confidently submit the matter to the judgment of the Craft .
The Institution is within two years of celebrating the hundredth year of its existence . For more than one-half of that time its operations were limited , and have left no mark in history ; the record of the real progress of the School dates from the present generation , and at no time has it shown such activity and usefulness as at present .
Let the Institution be still more progressive , moving with the times , and let us celebrate the Centenary by laying the foundation of a " greater " school , which can be pointed to by the Craft as a lasting memorial of their generosity . Signed , on behalf and by order of the Board of Management , EICHARD EVE , Chairman
GEOEGE EVERETT } ~ n , . W . FENTIMAN SMITHSON j" Vice ^ JMarmen .
Issued by order of the Board of Management to each Subscriber , with the Voting Paper for the October Election , J . M . McLEOD , Secretary . 6 Freemasons' Hall , Great Queen Street , London W . C ., 8 th September 1896 .
Appendix A . Extracts from the Report of the Committee of Investigation presented to the Quarterly Court held 26 th April 1889 . " The main building was designed to accommodate 100 boys and the necessary staff of masters and attendants . At the present time about 200 boys are housed , fed and instructed therein , and in certain respects the accommodation is deficient and unsatisfactory .
Most of the class-rooms in use are dark and cheerless in daytime , and are only adapted for from one-half to two-thirds of the numbers taught in them , circumstances which in our judgment tend to produce unsatisfactory physique and absence of vivacity in the pupils . We ascertained that in the alterations made since first construction onehalf the bath-room , accommodation was removed and no substitute provided , in other words , half the accommodation is now provided for double the number of boys , so that the bathing accommodation now left is four times too small according to the original design .
The building used as an infirmary does not permit of effectual isolation in infectious or contagious cases , nor , if an outbreak of illness occurred , are its capabilities adequate . When the Institution is in a position to carry out the work , a properly designed infirmary is a necessity . The playground for the main school is small , too small indeed for the present number of pupils , unless they have daily access to a more extensive recreation ground . The
' field ' which is made to serve this latter purpose is totally unfit , owing to its being situated on a slope , and though the prejudicial consequences to the health and well-being of the boys thus arising were forcibly pointed out sixteen years ago by Dr . Barry , and though the opportunity of rectifying the evil has been open to the authorities since the acquisition of Kent House , in 1877 , no step appears to have been taken by them in the matter .
In the Junior School this want is still more urgent . Not only is their asphalted play-ground inadequate in size , but it is enclosed and shut in with fences , which for a great part of the year hinder the free access of light and air , and render it a totally unfit place for the recreation of the younger children . The junior pupils have also to make use of the 'field' as a recreation ground . The soil of this field is a retentive clay , so stiff as to prevent its use in wet weather .
We noticed that the general appearance of the boys was pale , and their manner spiritless . We attach great importance to these questions of proper play and recreation grounds , which require immediate attention . We carefully observed the boys in play hours and when at dinner . We were unfavourably impressed with their general appearance , and remarked the doadness and want of activity they displayed . There was a lack of
animation even in their games . The physique is low , and they crowded aimlessly about the playgrounds ( where we watched them unobserved ) in a manner very different to healthy boys at play . This was especially obvious in the younger boys , and we attribute it in part to the insufficient playgrounds , and over-long hours of study . All suffer from what was described to us as ' the dreadful monotony . '
We have already mentioned that the school library is now locked up . We found no access to the books has been allowed for some time . This ought at once to be altered .
Complaints of the quality of the clothes supplied were laid before us . Wo arrived at the conclusion it is of inferior quality . No difference in the under-garments was formerly made between summer and winter . As to the towels , each is used in common by several boys . Apart from the deficiency in warm bath accommodation already noted , the plunge bath is neither in construction , mode of heating , or user , satisfactory .
Owing chiefly to the cold and the absence of proper warming of the larger class-rooms , but in part to the want of proper exercise and low tone of bealth , the boys generally have been subject to chilblains , often of a severe character . "
NOTES TO APPENDIX A . BATHING ACCOMMODATION . —Two of the "dark and cheerless" classrooms were converted by the Committee of 1889-90 into shallow baths to
Removal Of The Boys School.
remedy this , but this supply is still insufficient . The plunge bath at the end of the gymnasium is only seventeen by fourteen feet in size , yet nearly every boy in the school has learned the rudiments of swimming in it . INFIBMABY . —By an exchange of residences , the original residence of the Head-Master became the Infirmary in 1889 . A serious outbreak of mumps
and scarlet fever in 1891-2 soon proved the necessity for a Sanitorium . A house in the neighbourhood was rented , and is still held as a Sanitorium . Though involving considerable expense , the Board has the satisfaction of knowing that by this means the School has been freed from the spread of infectious illness .
PLAYING GBOUND . —The policy of the present Board has been to encourage outdoor exercise and the playing by every boy of football and cricket . The result is shown that the boys are now robust and full of spirits . But for a school of the present size at least forty acres of good playing field accommodation is required . For the past three seasons a field of twelve acres has been hired for football practice , but its distance from the School is a serious drawback , nor can it be obtained for cricket .
SCHOOL LIBBABY . —The present Board has greatly developed this , and now there are 2 , 500 volumes fn the Library . In addition , the original School-room has been converted into a Reading-room , which is well supplied with periodicals and newspapers . The boys not only read , but their reading is directed and supervised . But this room is not large enough , and part of the gymnasium has had to be taken as a supplementary reading-room , besides which the junior school-boy 3 have to use a Class-room .
CLOTHING . —The present management has made a complete change , and the points referred to by the Investigation Committee have been altogether remedied .
HEATING ABBANGEMENTS . —These were altered by the Committee of 1889-91 , and no cause for complaint now exists .
Appendix B . Report of the Medical Officer to the Board of Management on 26 th June 1896 : — " During the term that is now coming to its close there has been but little illness , and that of a comparatively trifling kind . I have this afternoon made my usual monthly inspection of the boys , and wish I could claim for all of them that they were strong , robust , muscular lads , but unfortunately
and inevitably their parentage will not allow all to be that , but I am very pleased to be able to say that they are in a remarkably good state of health owing no doubt in great part to their regular and well-ordered mode of life , good food , judicious clothing , well-aired class-rooms , and last , but not least , to their being encouraged in all their outdoor games and pursuits . I will go further , and say that during the few ( 6 J ) years I have been connected with this Institution , I have never seen these boys looking more healthy and happy . "
Appendix C . Extract from the speech of the Right Hon . The Earl of Lathom M . W . Pro Grand Master "Vice-Patron and Trustee of the Institution , delivered when presiding over the 93 rd Anniversary Festival , held at the Royal Pavilion , Brighton , 24 th June 1891 .
" From an historical point of view he could quite understand how very disappointing it must be to a Head-Master and those who worked with him to find that their pupils were taken away from them , or rather left them just at the age at which a boy was beginning to show his best ability . He wished it were possible to keep them at school longer ; if it were one year more it would be something ; if it were two it would be better , for then these boys
would be able to compete fairly and on a better basis than they wore now able to compete for scholarships with other boys . Of course that was a matter for the Committee , and he had no doubt they would give it their best consideration . If Masons paid a very high price for the education of these boys , it must surely be worth while carrying that out thoroughly ; carrying the education to its fullest extent , and fitting the boys for any walk in life they might have the opportunity of entering . He did not say that
anything was left undone that ought to be done ; but still , when they were doing a work it might perhaps be well to consider whether they could not do something more . He was now going to touch upon a point which would be perfectly new to many of the Brethren , if not all of them . Before very long it might have to be considered whether it would not be for the benefit of the School to remove a little further into the country . The present quarters , as the Brethren knew , were located on a terribly sticky , clayey soil .
" Everyone knew a clay soil was not conducive to health . No one purchasing a place would choose a clay soil . There were plenty of sites with a gravel soil to be got , and what a pleasant thing it would be to visit the School if it were in the country on a gravel soil . Of course it was a financial question and required very great care and thought . He mentioned the subject as a caution to those who wished to have more school buildings
erected on the same site , because he could tell them it was mere waste of money . If they went on building it would militate against the value of the site in the market . He did not know the value of the place , but he did know that if they covered it with buildings they would not realise what they would want for the site when they desired to get rid of it . There was another reason for his wishing that they should leave the present site , the appearance of the surroundings ' .
It was surrounded now by very small tenements indeed . That was not what they should have around a great school like this , for this was a great school . He threw this out as a hint , it might not be acceptable to the Committee or the Brethren , but he thought it was worth thinking over . "
Appendix D . PART I . The Resolution passed by the Quarterly Court of 8 th April 1892 was as follows : — " That in view of the favourable opinion that was expressed upon the
suggestion of the desirability of changing the site of the Institution , made by the M . W . Pro Grand Master the Earl of Lathom , at the last Festival , the Quarterly Court authorises the Board of Management to entertain negotiations for the realisation of the Estate of the Institution to the best advantage , and to report thereon to the next , or , if necessary , to a Special Court . '
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Removal Of The Boys School.
( b ) In Bates ; ( c ) In cost of water , & c . ; and that , as a necessary consequence , any loss of capital in disposing of the present site will be regained by the greater benefits to be conferred , and the economy to be made in the working of a school adapted for our present and future needs .
The Board has pride in pointing to its successful management and to the great strides and successes of the school during the past few years ( See Appendix H . )—the members can claim to be representative and business men , and they confidently submit the matter to the judgment of the Craft .
The Institution is within two years of celebrating the hundredth year of its existence . For more than one-half of that time its operations were limited , and have left no mark in history ; the record of the real progress of the School dates from the present generation , and at no time has it shown such activity and usefulness as at present .
Let the Institution be still more progressive , moving with the times , and let us celebrate the Centenary by laying the foundation of a " greater " school , which can be pointed to by the Craft as a lasting memorial of their generosity . Signed , on behalf and by order of the Board of Management , EICHARD EVE , Chairman
GEOEGE EVERETT } ~ n , . W . FENTIMAN SMITHSON j" Vice ^ JMarmen .
Issued by order of the Board of Management to each Subscriber , with the Voting Paper for the October Election , J . M . McLEOD , Secretary . 6 Freemasons' Hall , Great Queen Street , London W . C ., 8 th September 1896 .
Appendix A . Extracts from the Report of the Committee of Investigation presented to the Quarterly Court held 26 th April 1889 . " The main building was designed to accommodate 100 boys and the necessary staff of masters and attendants . At the present time about 200 boys are housed , fed and instructed therein , and in certain respects the accommodation is deficient and unsatisfactory .
Most of the class-rooms in use are dark and cheerless in daytime , and are only adapted for from one-half to two-thirds of the numbers taught in them , circumstances which in our judgment tend to produce unsatisfactory physique and absence of vivacity in the pupils . We ascertained that in the alterations made since first construction onehalf the bath-room , accommodation was removed and no substitute provided , in other words , half the accommodation is now provided for double the number of boys , so that the bathing accommodation now left is four times too small according to the original design .
The building used as an infirmary does not permit of effectual isolation in infectious or contagious cases , nor , if an outbreak of illness occurred , are its capabilities adequate . When the Institution is in a position to carry out the work , a properly designed infirmary is a necessity . The playground for the main school is small , too small indeed for the present number of pupils , unless they have daily access to a more extensive recreation ground . The
' field ' which is made to serve this latter purpose is totally unfit , owing to its being situated on a slope , and though the prejudicial consequences to the health and well-being of the boys thus arising were forcibly pointed out sixteen years ago by Dr . Barry , and though the opportunity of rectifying the evil has been open to the authorities since the acquisition of Kent House , in 1877 , no step appears to have been taken by them in the matter .
In the Junior School this want is still more urgent . Not only is their asphalted play-ground inadequate in size , but it is enclosed and shut in with fences , which for a great part of the year hinder the free access of light and air , and render it a totally unfit place for the recreation of the younger children . The junior pupils have also to make use of the 'field' as a recreation ground . The soil of this field is a retentive clay , so stiff as to prevent its use in wet weather .
We noticed that the general appearance of the boys was pale , and their manner spiritless . We attach great importance to these questions of proper play and recreation grounds , which require immediate attention . We carefully observed the boys in play hours and when at dinner . We were unfavourably impressed with their general appearance , and remarked the doadness and want of activity they displayed . There was a lack of
animation even in their games . The physique is low , and they crowded aimlessly about the playgrounds ( where we watched them unobserved ) in a manner very different to healthy boys at play . This was especially obvious in the younger boys , and we attribute it in part to the insufficient playgrounds , and over-long hours of study . All suffer from what was described to us as ' the dreadful monotony . '
We have already mentioned that the school library is now locked up . We found no access to the books has been allowed for some time . This ought at once to be altered .
Complaints of the quality of the clothes supplied were laid before us . Wo arrived at the conclusion it is of inferior quality . No difference in the under-garments was formerly made between summer and winter . As to the towels , each is used in common by several boys . Apart from the deficiency in warm bath accommodation already noted , the plunge bath is neither in construction , mode of heating , or user , satisfactory .
Owing chiefly to the cold and the absence of proper warming of the larger class-rooms , but in part to the want of proper exercise and low tone of bealth , the boys generally have been subject to chilblains , often of a severe character . "
NOTES TO APPENDIX A . BATHING ACCOMMODATION . —Two of the "dark and cheerless" classrooms were converted by the Committee of 1889-90 into shallow baths to
Removal Of The Boys School.
remedy this , but this supply is still insufficient . The plunge bath at the end of the gymnasium is only seventeen by fourteen feet in size , yet nearly every boy in the school has learned the rudiments of swimming in it . INFIBMABY . —By an exchange of residences , the original residence of the Head-Master became the Infirmary in 1889 . A serious outbreak of mumps
and scarlet fever in 1891-2 soon proved the necessity for a Sanitorium . A house in the neighbourhood was rented , and is still held as a Sanitorium . Though involving considerable expense , the Board has the satisfaction of knowing that by this means the School has been freed from the spread of infectious illness .
PLAYING GBOUND . —The policy of the present Board has been to encourage outdoor exercise and the playing by every boy of football and cricket . The result is shown that the boys are now robust and full of spirits . But for a school of the present size at least forty acres of good playing field accommodation is required . For the past three seasons a field of twelve acres has been hired for football practice , but its distance from the School is a serious drawback , nor can it be obtained for cricket .
SCHOOL LIBBABY . —The present Board has greatly developed this , and now there are 2 , 500 volumes fn the Library . In addition , the original School-room has been converted into a Reading-room , which is well supplied with periodicals and newspapers . The boys not only read , but their reading is directed and supervised . But this room is not large enough , and part of the gymnasium has had to be taken as a supplementary reading-room , besides which the junior school-boy 3 have to use a Class-room .
CLOTHING . —The present management has made a complete change , and the points referred to by the Investigation Committee have been altogether remedied .
HEATING ABBANGEMENTS . —These were altered by the Committee of 1889-91 , and no cause for complaint now exists .
Appendix B . Report of the Medical Officer to the Board of Management on 26 th June 1896 : — " During the term that is now coming to its close there has been but little illness , and that of a comparatively trifling kind . I have this afternoon made my usual monthly inspection of the boys , and wish I could claim for all of them that they were strong , robust , muscular lads , but unfortunately
and inevitably their parentage will not allow all to be that , but I am very pleased to be able to say that they are in a remarkably good state of health owing no doubt in great part to their regular and well-ordered mode of life , good food , judicious clothing , well-aired class-rooms , and last , but not least , to their being encouraged in all their outdoor games and pursuits . I will go further , and say that during the few ( 6 J ) years I have been connected with this Institution , I have never seen these boys looking more healthy and happy . "
Appendix C . Extract from the speech of the Right Hon . The Earl of Lathom M . W . Pro Grand Master "Vice-Patron and Trustee of the Institution , delivered when presiding over the 93 rd Anniversary Festival , held at the Royal Pavilion , Brighton , 24 th June 1891 .
" From an historical point of view he could quite understand how very disappointing it must be to a Head-Master and those who worked with him to find that their pupils were taken away from them , or rather left them just at the age at which a boy was beginning to show his best ability . He wished it were possible to keep them at school longer ; if it were one year more it would be something ; if it were two it would be better , for then these boys
would be able to compete fairly and on a better basis than they wore now able to compete for scholarships with other boys . Of course that was a matter for the Committee , and he had no doubt they would give it their best consideration . If Masons paid a very high price for the education of these boys , it must surely be worth while carrying that out thoroughly ; carrying the education to its fullest extent , and fitting the boys for any walk in life they might have the opportunity of entering . He did not say that
anything was left undone that ought to be done ; but still , when they were doing a work it might perhaps be well to consider whether they could not do something more . He was now going to touch upon a point which would be perfectly new to many of the Brethren , if not all of them . Before very long it might have to be considered whether it would not be for the benefit of the School to remove a little further into the country . The present quarters , as the Brethren knew , were located on a terribly sticky , clayey soil .
" Everyone knew a clay soil was not conducive to health . No one purchasing a place would choose a clay soil . There were plenty of sites with a gravel soil to be got , and what a pleasant thing it would be to visit the School if it were in the country on a gravel soil . Of course it was a financial question and required very great care and thought . He mentioned the subject as a caution to those who wished to have more school buildings
erected on the same site , because he could tell them it was mere waste of money . If they went on building it would militate against the value of the site in the market . He did not know the value of the place , but he did know that if they covered it with buildings they would not realise what they would want for the site when they desired to get rid of it . There was another reason for his wishing that they should leave the present site , the appearance of the surroundings ' .
It was surrounded now by very small tenements indeed . That was not what they should have around a great school like this , for this was a great school . He threw this out as a hint , it might not be acceptable to the Committee or the Brethren , but he thought it was worth thinking over . "
Appendix D . PART I . The Resolution passed by the Quarterly Court of 8 th April 1892 was as follows : — " That in view of the favourable opinion that was expressed upon the
suggestion of the desirability of changing the site of the Institution , made by the M . W . Pro Grand Master the Earl of Lathom , at the last Festival , the Quarterly Court authorises the Board of Management to entertain negotiations for the realisation of the Estate of the Institution to the best advantage , and to report thereon to the next , or , if necessary , to a Special Court . '