Reminiscences of Rotherham
by G. Gummer, J.P.
« « prevDEATH OF CHAIRMAN
Mr. A. P. Hirst, who had acted as chairman for several years. died after a long illness, in 1894. In a resolution the Board testified to the high esteem in which he was held for his untiring efforts to promote the work of education in the town. The next Board will be remembered for the intellectual and de nominational tussels between the Rev. W. B. Pym, Vicar of Rotherham and the Rev. Thos. Nicholson, pastor of the Independent Chapel. On this Board the Church secured four seats of the nine, the Vicar being returned by 1000 more votes than the next highest. During their term of office they lost their old clerk (Mr. T. Swann), and appointed Mr. W. H. Corbridge, of Parkgate, as his successor.The two ministers, the reports of whose speeches on educational matters were eagerly read by the ratepayers, resigned before their term of office expired, the Vicar to take charge of a church at Sharrow, Sheffield, and Mr. Nicholson to minister to the wants of the Congregationalists of Birkdale. The election of 1899 saw Mr. T. W. Grundy at the top of the poll, with Lieut. Colonel Hirst a good second. On this occasion there were 14 candidates for the nine seats. Why the Colonel fought the election was never quite clear, as out of 192 possible attendances at meetings he only attended 29. The salaries of the teachers had now reached round about £15,000, while the total expenditure amounted to £20,000 per annum, as compared with £332 for teachers’ salaries and £1307, the total expenses in 1876.
NAUGHTY WORDS
In the early part of these reminiscences I made reference to the advantage of good pen manship. A few months ago Alderman A. P. Aizlewood, speaking at a meeting of the Education Authority, made the astounding statement that no teacher in the service of the Rotherham Education Authority was able to teach writing. How different to my boyhood days. when no lad’s education was considered complete unless he could write well. Bad writing is a sign of decay. how often are we told to sign our names in block letters P - a sure indication that present-day writing is illegible. But writing may be wrongly used. Alderman Geo. Senior, of Sheffield, once said that the only difference that he could perceive for the large sums of money spent on education was that the naughty words on the walls were written lower down than they used to be.DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION
Writing on education and the School Board reminds me that the Rotherham Municipal Service has been the nursery for many men who now hold important positions in other cities and boroughs. The most prominent instance that comes to my mind is that of Spurley Hey, who first began to climb the ladder in the service of the Rotherham Education Authority. It is not always merit in the early stage that enables a man to secure his first and perhaps subordinate position. A little so-called luck or a little influence makes all the difference in the hastening to the first success in life. Golf is said to have been instrumental in securing appointments under the Rotherham Corporation, although I have no knowledge of this. In Mr. Spurley Hey’s case his knowledge of football gave him a start in St. Mary School, Sheffield, under Mr. Fred Bye, who had been an excellent footbaIler himself and was rapidly becoming one of the foremost referees of his time. Shortly afterwards Mr. Hey secured a post under the Rotherham School Board. On his appointment Mr. Richard Corker, a member of the Board, remarked that they had got quantity at any rate; the quality he hoped would be equally satisfactory. In 1893 he commenced duty at the Kimberworth Board Schools, and later became headmaster at the pupil teachers’ centre. On the death of Mr. Corbridge, the clerk to the Board, he received the appointment of Director of Education. His service in Rotherham lasted until 1911, when he left to take up a similar position in Newcastle-on Tyne. Ten years ago he accepted an appointment as Director of Education at Manchester, and to-day is looked upon as one of the great authorities in the educational world. Dr. Arnold, whose long experience with youth at Rugby gave weight to his opinion, declared, 'the difference between one boy and another next »Index «
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