Log Book Extracts 1901

Camelsdale's School Logbook records events from 1901, (as the Bell school), until the present day.

In the Book, or books because there are several of them, the Headteacher of the time was required to record certain events.
These included records of attendance which were often followed by some explanation if attendance was poor. Bad weather, children helping with the harvest or an epidemic of measles, scarlet fever or other illness. Many of these diseases had to be notified at the time to the County Medical Officer.
Teacher absences were recorded.
Visits from HMI's the School Inspectors were noted and often their written report on the school was included in the Logbook, handwritten by the Inspector or transcribed by the Headteacher.
Often, other, more interesting items were included as well.

We have taken a few extracts from the books to give a glimpse at some of the events in the lives of those involved in the school during the last Century.

Extracts from Log Book 1 1902 - 1947

Date	Extract	Comments
Sept 6^th 1906	Two scholars Fred Howkins & Chas Aylwin away this afternoon, having been severely stung by wasps � during the dinner-hour.
Feb 10^th 1908	Men sent from the North of England Furnishing Company to fix screen. Cycled to Fernhurst & saw Correspondent & Chairman of Managers who ordered me to close school for two days.	Mr Hartwright was the Headmaster who cycled to Fernhurst.
Aug 1^st 1934	The timetable was not adhered to this afternoon � gardening being taken from 1.30 � 2.45 for the purpose of lifting the potato crop. During the lesson Arthur Howard stuck a garden fork through his foot into his toe. There was no question of fooling about in any way. This boy was actually digging & it was a pure accident. I asked the school Nurse to call & dress the boy�s foot at his home 200 yards away to which he was immediately sent. The office was also notified.	Gardening could be dangerous!
Nov 9^th 1934	The fireplace in Standards I & II Room is broken and the room gets filled with smoke. Wrote to the County Architect explaining & requisitioning repair, asking him to treat as a matter of urgency.
Nov 14^th 1934	Children dismissed at 3.50 on account of darkness owing to a very thick fog. Walk home was dangerous, older children asked to pilot little ones. All children warned of road dangers before dismissal.	Fog
Jan 9^th 1936	Nurse Jolly visited � Routine Head Inspection. Present 125/155. A very wet day � Many children must have got very wet indeed on going home from school last night & probably are staying away until clothes are dry.	Nurse Jolly otherwise known as the Nit Nurse!
Jan 27^th 1936	Lessons taken on King George � His Life as a King, Citizen, and the examples. School will be closed tomorrow. From enquires by teachers it is found that out of 73 children present from Standard 3 upwards, over 50 are attending services at Camelsdale & Lynchmere. The rest live at long distances.	The death of King George V The King's death is not actually recorded in the Logbook
Sep 13th 1937	Lynchmere School has been closed by the Board of Education & many of the scholars who attended there were admitted this morning (17 in all)
June 4th 1937	School Garden Report 47 Fernhurst Camelsdale C. 4 June 1937 The condition of this garden continues to show discipline, good teaching and careful work. Operations this year have been retarded by the flooding of the garden, but the preparation of the land has been so thorough in the past that in spite of this drawback the garden promises to have a good season and to carry a good weight of produce. It was a great pleasure to see the Headmaster recovered from his recent illness and to discuss with him plans for the future development of the garden. Report made by Mr W J Rayner one of the Specialist Inspectors of the Board of Education.	The School garden was inspected.
Aug 4th 1939	School closed for Summer Holidays. School prepared as billet station in case of emergency. All teachers informed they must be prepared to return at short notice before conclusion of holiday if required & that they were not to go abroad in case they were wanted immediately to help with evacuations.	Preparing for war!
Aug 26th 1939	Telegram sent to all teachers asking them to report at school on Monday 9 am (Aug 28).	Where is Miss Bostock?
Aug 28th 1939	All teachers with exception of Miss Bostock reported at 9 am. Miss Bostock is in France in �spite� of Circular letter from the Education Office warning teachers not to go abroad.
Sep 1st 1939	Evacuation of London Children. All teachers helping with exception of Miss Bostock.	Evacuees from Fulham
Sep 11th 1939	School reopened � to Sussex children & non government scheme evacuees. Evacuees proper in afternoon under their own teachers
Sep 12th 1939	All going at smoothly as can be expected under the circumstances double shift system.
Sep 13th 1939	Miss Bostock returned.
Oct 1st 1939	The numbers of children in the two shifts are 205 / 305. To dispose of overcrowding in the second shift the local school is giving up one room to the second shift. The local children in this room (21) being absorbed in the second shift. This leaves 4 classes instead of 5 in the local school and the numbers in each session are now approximately 250 / 250.
Jan 8th 1940	School reopened. The weather is intensely cold and the lavatories are frozen. A plumber has been called in to mend the pipes. During the holidays the school has been used by the evacuated schools.	Frozen pipes
Oct 9th 1940	To assist with local agricultural needs during the period of war, 20 senior children from Class I today paid their first visit to Vale Wood farm for the purpose of picking potatoes. Permission has been received for the children to be engaged on this work for four or five afternoon sessions.	Potato Picking
Dec12th 1946	First presentation of the Camelsdale School challenge Cup (kindly donated by Mr. J. L. Stewart Granger) by the Hon Mrs Morgan Grenville, member of the W.S.C.C. Education Committee.	Stewart Granger
3 Mar 1947	School reopened and again close at 12 noon with the approval of the County Authority. Lavatories and internal water pipes still frozen solid.	Frozen pipes again! This happened a lot I understand.
	and there is lots more...